It is no longer "new" news that the "new" media, separately or in convergence with the traditional mass media, are often reinforcing old ways and traditional patterns. Concentration of ownership; under- or misappropriate employment patterns for certain groups and classes of people; and inadequate, inappropriate, and inaccurate content have been identified in the traditional media--patterns and trends which seem likely to continue in the new media. Basic and applied research should concentrate on analyzing inequities in traditional societal structures, where better and more appropriate communication and information is needed. Potential and already existing new societal structures, especially those built around communication and information where "flow-keeping" agendas predominate need to be identified and used as models. Current theories, conceputal frameworks, and research approaches should be tried for their "fit" for the information age. Some theories, which on the surface appear most adaptable for creating opportunities for societal structuring of communication in conjunction with information improvement and equity, include knowledge gap hypothesis, information and innovation flow and diffusion, media dependency, convergence and systems theories and network analysis. The conceptual framework of the assessment approach called "global eco-communication" includes efficiency, effectiveness, and entertainment from traditional communication and information concerns, and diversity, equity, and improvement as the other but equal side of the research coin. (A 17-item bibliography is attached; an appendix outlines a proposal for a master's program in global eco-communications.) (NKA)