Digital Communication Ecosystems: A Collaborative Framework for Integrating Mass Communication, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) In the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The rise of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has altered the process of
production, distribution, consumption, and management of information in modern
societies. The adoption of artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data,
blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), fifth-generation (5G) networks, and digital
platforms has changed communication processes, precipitating both opportunities and
serious challenges. Despite these technological breakthroughs, many digital incursions
continue to experience rejection, exclusion, misinformation, cybersecurity challenges, and
dwindling public trust because communication considerations are usually divorced from
technological growth. This paper posits a digital transformation that will produce a
seamless incorporation of Mass Communication and information and communication
Technology (ICT) into the digital ecosystem. With insights from extant literature in
communication studies, information systems, digital media, innovation studies, and
technology management, the study introduces the Integrated Digital Communication–ICT
Collaboration Framework (IDCICF), a conceptual model that enshrines communication
principles into every facet of ICT production and operation. The framework argues that
communication professionals and ICT experts should operate synergistically from digital
needs assessment and system design to platform development, digital literacy promotion,
technology adoption, evaluation, and continuous innovation. The study contributes to
emerging interdisciplinary scholarship by repositioning communication as an integral part
of ICT evolution instead of just a channel for the application of technology. The framework
will guide governments, educational institutions, technology firms, development
organizations, policymakers, and researchers eager to build reliable and resilient digital
systems.