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This is a lecture on how political journalism is changing in the UK (and with some international case studies) as communications become more networked. It shows that people are given more voice to question power but that there are limits on how much this is really changing politics or democracy. It uses the Clegg 'I'm sorry' episode to highlight the role of humour in this new environment.
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Political journalism in the digital age
Charlie BeckettMC417
November [email protected]
@CharlieBeckett
• “…the joining of these two forces - the information revolution and the human urge to co-operate for justice - makes possible for the first time in history something we have only dreamt about: the creation of a truly global society. A global society where people anywhere and everywhere can discover their shared values, communicate with each other and do not need to meet or live next door to each other to join together with people in other countries in a single moral universe to bring about change….”
Remaking the world with the Web?
Remaking the world with the Web?
• “It used to be thought – and I include myself in this – that help was on the horizon. New forms of communication would provide new outlets to by-pass the increasingly shrill tenor of traditional media. In fact, the new forms can be even more pernicious, less balanced, more intent on the latest conspiracy theory multiplied by five”
• “It used to be thought – and I include myself in this – that help was on the horizon. New forms of communication would provide new outlets to by-pass the increasingly shrill tenor of traditional media. In fact, the new forms can be even more pernicious, less balanced, more intent on the latest conspiracy theory multiplied by five”
• Tony Blair Reuters ‘feral beasts’ speech 2007
How (analogue age) political journalism worked
Power Media Public
How networked political journalism works
Public
Media
Power
What changed? Old to New News Media
Crude technology – Infinite technologyTop down – consumer led
Deadlines – 24/7Barriers to entry – easy access
Unreactive - InteractiveExpensive - Cheap
Single platform – Multi PlatformScarcity - abundance
Profitable – Free
Networked Journalism
What changed?
• Hypertextuality - connectivity
• Interactivity & participation
• Multi-mediality & diversity
• In a world where humour can be more effective than reason, where does that leave the idea of an informed society?
• In world where satire can be more effective than debate, where does that leave the idea of deliberation?
What happens to these core functions of political journalism?
• To inform
• To foster debate
• To present a critique and hold power to account
The 47% video: citizen plus reporter
The 47% make the news
Nate Silver – a journalist who isn’t a journalist
Non MSM Fora
Non MSM Watchdog
What difference?
• More informed?• More accountable?• More open debate?• More democratic media?• More democratic politics?
The real crisis is not authority but attention
• Trust – transparency - accountability• Value – verification – utility • Relevance – proximity – diversity • Empowerment – investigative, disruptive,
critical, reflexive, open
