A friend of mine was in the process of exploring why the media doesn’t cover things that are important to people’s lives as the original public sphere was supposed to, such as why are kids starving in Canada, why do the poor still die younger, etc. and so many other important issues?
Of course media production is primarily a business and business needs customers, and what catches customers attention, catches the attention of business stakeholders, and then business then tries to duplicate.
But now that media is going through a rapid change, and we are all looking towards the digital space. It costs very little to publish on the web. So do the same issues exist in the democratized web space? Well, I think I could argue yes and no. But I would also argue that its like comparing apples and oranges. Different challenges exist on the web.
But arguments aside, the real question is: does the web offer a glimmer of hope towards making meaningful change?
What do people think?
November 28th, 2009 - 12:40 pm
The problem, as I see it, is whether or not people are ready for social change. People tune out whatever they don’t want to hear.
December 8th, 2009 - 3:08 pm
The web has always been democratic. A space where you can freely post your ideas and find your audience.
Given the relative ease by which you can publish a message and the powerful tools available to internet users to find and connect with similar points of view and concern – I’d say “yes” the web does offer a glimmer hope of meaningful change.
Combine all this capability with a growing mindset of concern for sustainability in its many forms and the willingness to act on it, online and in person, you may have more than a glimmer brewing.