Com155-133 Spring 2011
Folksonomy
With the advancement of technology a person has a whole cornucopia of information in which to access, people have the ability to go online and go to various news sites like the Huffington Post, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc. With the advent of portable devices like the I-touch or smart phones, which can surf the web, people can be updated constantly about what is going on in their world. In fact with many people turning to the internet for information, traditional print news outlets like the New York Time or the Washington Post had to create an online component in order to compete. One would be hard pressed to find a newspaper in print that did not have a website; even the Poughkeepsie Journal keeps its readers up to date with a website. However, this flow of information is not a one-way street as the availability of the technology around them allows them to report the news and reach millions of people.
Most phones nowadays are equipped with a video camera that allows a person to record anything they like; some of the more advanced phones can capture video that is near or is actually high definition. When an event happens of great significance or of random happenstance, news outlets like CNN often use amateur video, captured on cell phone video recorders, in order for their wider viewing audience to see what has transpired; with almost every cell phone equipped with a camera news organizations have virtually thousands of potential camera men and women out there to capture all sorts of events. On the tragic day of September 11th, 2001 when the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists news organizations used video footage captured by ordinary people in conjunction with footage by their own camera people in order to for people to see the totality of the situation, but the average citizens who were there at ground zero were instrumental in capturing the first few minutes. However, the influence of average people being involved in the news cycle need not only be regulated to the extreme of 9/11, but can even be felt to a somewhat lesser extent. Whenever, there is a hotly anticipated movie in the process of filming, sometimes the firs pictures you get on set are not ones sent by the official movie studios, but of people taking a picture with their cell phone.
The widespread use of popular internet resources like You Tube or Blog Spot has given rise to the amateur journalist. Websites such as You Tube has become a vehicle in which people can voice their opinions on any number of topics such as the politics of the day. Some “internet journalist” has gotten so popular that they can even rival some traditional news outlets; one such example is the Yong Turks. The Young Turks is a liberal internet talk show that is showcased either through live steaming or You Tube; the show claims to be the first internet television radio show ever and the largest online news show in the world. The Young Turks received a lot of attention for the ninety nine hour on air filibuster done during the Samuel Alito nomination. Also, there are the bloggers who post their opinions on their blog; these bloggers gain a certain level of trust with their readers (social currency) which in some cases allow them to garner relationships with their viewers that rival those of traditional news outlets like CNN. For instance blogger who has an opinion on the current protests going on in Wisconsin could have as much credibility as Wolf Blitzer at CNN. Although, the ability to contribute or even report the news gives people freedom not seen just a few century or so ago there is a downside. When a person wants to become a traditional reporter they go through the traditional routes such as going to school and taking the necessary programs, which in the long run makes sure people adhere to the same standards. However, the amateur blogger blows that out of the water. They did not receive the same education that a professional would have at an accredited institution. Douglas Rushkoff, in his article “Rise of the Amateur,” he stated, “the rise of amateur activity online has given many people an exaggerated sense of their own competencies—and a diminished sense of yours…As is often the case with new technology, people have mistaken their access to your tools for the competency to use them” (MPI). In the past there used to be select group of individuals who reported the news, but now with the rise of online tools there are now many sources and not all of them bother to do any form of fact checking, but potentially carry the same influence as accredited sources.
In the end, having many amateur sources of information in which to choose from is not necessarily bad, but I do believe that given all that is out there on line a person has to be very careful which source they should trust.
While I agree with you on your points, Lance. I feel as if too much emphasis is being put on the fact that these so called "amateur" news sources may or may not be trusted. As far as I'm concerned we've always been faced with the choice of who to trust. In fact with the ability to take video of just about anything evidence is more abundant than ever before. Also, who says FoxNews is a legitimate news source anyway (fair and balanced, yeah right)? In all seriousness though, you mentioned that the amateur is blowing the concept of a proper education and standards out of the water (at least for journalism). While this has some merit, I feel like there are plenty of people who have either gotten an education or degree in something, and then ended up doing something else or who can do a fine job at whatever they have a passion for despite their level of education. Not to say that some people don't abuse the ability to "report" whatever they want over the internet.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your main points. As far as the trust is concerned as Matt brought up, it's becoming harder to distinguish trustworthy sources on the web because there are so many. I think the key is just learning how to distinguish credibility and not simply believing everything you read. I agree with your points on the education etc... for professionals. I see Matt's point how you can become something other then what you were schooled in and do it fine, and also agree with that completely. The thing that connects those two points is that you're getting schooling in a profession in either of those two instances. Part of the education is learning ethical issues etc... which I see as the main thing that sets the education apart, although some people still abuse their power even with the education...for the most part it teaches people to generally do the right thing, no matter what the profession.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is becoming harder to distinguish trustworthy sources in the web. All news channels can be legitimate but also some might be hard to trust. Also, I agree with your point about September 11th and that there were many videos that people could just take out their cell phones and record what was happening right then and there.
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