challenging what stands

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471

posted by Meg Carpenter @ 6:05 AM 0 comments

“Information is an ocean, and newsmakers can no longer control the tide as easily as they once did."

In Chapter 3 of we the media Dan Gillmor explains what I think is the top three challenges to traditional media. Though the three I picked aren’t the only challenges I think others can fall into these categories. They challenge traditional media because it makes the job of the traditional newspaper or reporter harder and the readers easier. The reporter has to give the most current information, and must make it appealing to the reader, even if they know nothing about the topic.

“The gates come down”

“First, outsiders of all kinds can probe more deeply into newsmakers’ business affairs. They can disseminate what they learn more widely and more quickly. And it’s never easier to organize like-minded people to support, or denounce, a person or cause. The communication-enabled grassroots is a formidable truth squad.”

Like Gillmor says, anyone who is anyone can do journalism now. With the invention of blogging, pod casts, and others, anyone can post what they believe is news. Why is this a problem for traditional journalism? Well traditional journalists take the approach of really researching the topic and then publicize it, something that takes time. To many Americans, time is something they don’t have. And some people don’t want to wait till five o’clock to hear about went on that day. With new forms of newsgathering people don’t have to wait, they can simply research and find what is latest news by searching the internet.

“Second, insiders are part of the conversation. Information no longer leaks. It gushes. Through firewalls and other barriers, via instant messages, emails, and phone calls.”

Today, people are finding it easier ad easier to communicate and news gather, with the access to cell phones, internet, text messages, and so on. People talk and news spreads quickly, much more quickly than a newspaper can circulate. With emails, and instant messages a conversation about the latest gossip or news can be read and sent to someone else with in a few minutes.

“Third, what gushes forth can take on a life of its own, even if it’s not true.”

You may being getting news at a incredible light speed, but how reliable is the news? Anyone can write a blog, and anyone can post information on sites, but is true? I think traditional media is finding this somewhat appalling. People rather search for the news themselves and take the risk of getting wrong information rather than read a reliable source like The New York Times

There are others that I believe threaten the traditional way of media, but personally I would rather rely on someone I can trust. Even if the information is a day old, I know I am reading really happened.

Sources: we the media grassroots journalism by the people for the people by: Dan Gillmor
Yahoo! images

posted by Meg Carpenter @ 5:53 AM 0 comments