We the Media (Intro., Ch. 1 and 2)
In the introduction on page XII the author wrote "Humans have always told each other stories , and each new era of progress has led to an expansion of storytelling."
This quote summarized the aspect of grass root journalism and participation of audience in contributing what is considered "news." This quote also reminded me of Salmon Rushdie's novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories (it's an awesome novel, it's hilarous and it's a metawriting/novel--> "it's a story about stories", you should read it). In this novel Haroun went to the sea of stories where he found evil-doers polluting the sea where stories originate (the source).
In today's class, Evan brought up a good point about discernment. He presented that a shift of power is occuring in the news/information exchange. The news is quicker and there's "greater span of what are considered as newsworthy." Discernment becomes an issue when the boundary between unbiased facts and opinions are destroyed. News in the sense becomes polluted, 'dirty.'
On the 'pros' of this situation, conversations are beginning and the concept of the lecture mode of one dominant voice who tells us what is considered 'news' as Mike explained are changing, giving us power and with great power comes responsibility (as Spiderman, as Dr. Jerz, and as others said). We as individuals shouldn't be apathetic but active in making this world a better place!
***Something new I learned in class today is about the liability of the 'hosting' (whoever hosts your website). They are subject to the laws of their land so they can do whatever to your website if it violates one of their laws.
Posted by Michael Diezmos at November 14, 2005 12:39 PM