Can media really make the world better?
At a summit in Washington D.C. for part of the day to talk about the future of journalism, globalism, technology and how all those things collide. Trying to wrap our heads around ways that media can change the world and make it better. It's a small gathering at the Ronald Regan building - less than 200 people. We're talking now about the changes in "citizen journalism" and about our current system of publishing. Listening now to Jan Schaffer, Solana Larsen (Global Voices), Tom Rosensteil (Project for Excellence in Journalism), Michael Tippet (NowPublic), Alan Webber (Fast Company) and more...
Says Webber: Media really can't change the world because you must challenge the status quo. To do that is to risk your financial well-being. There's a problm of finance. To change the system, you can't be in the system... The media is a newsgathering organization - Fast Company was in part "edu-tainment." The media isn't going to be in a place to change the world. Report on news, yes, but not raise questions that will significantly change the status quo.
Says Mike Hughes (Creative Director, Martin Agency): Citizens must change behavior. (We're talking now about Al Gore and climate change and the media response to him/ it.) The responsibility of the journalist is to tell the truth regardless... More environmental reporting, more honest climate reporting. We're facing a partisan lockdown. The backlash against Gore is unwarranted. Journalists should listen to the science and try to weed through the politics. Sometimes, in pursuit of balance, journalists are working against the spirit of telling the news and affecting change.
Says Schaffer: There are very different definitions as news. We don't see news as conflict, we' don't see scorecard journalism. In citizen journalism, we don't see these definitions in that space. Cit-jurnos challenge journalists to do their jobs better.
Says me: We should be differeniating advocacy journalism from American-style reporting and storytelling. There are many folks from international publications here - I'm wondering why, if we're going to have a discussion about the purpose of journalism, we're not discussing the historic purpose of reporting in America. I think journalists should engage the public in having discussions about current events and world conflicts...and I believe very strongly that technology enables this conversation to happen. It's not about creating a culture of anyman reporters or creating superfluous information - no, it's about communication on a grand, global scale. Hell, at least people are interested in news, no? I remember growing up and listening to my parents bemoan the lack of awareness people my age had in the state of the world.
