Hello? Is Big Media There?
I pointed out that misleading information had been published on a policy issue by (1) special interests, (2) bloggers, and (3) Big Media. The ACLU, JM Bell, and Brown Views all accepted my invitation to respond. The point of public discourse isn’t for them to admit that I’m right (though I always am). The point is to have the discourse – and allow the public to watch and, ideally, participate in that discourse. That way – even if the ride is a bit bumpy – we reach a good outcome or at least one most of us can stomach.
It is interesting that Big Media won’t go there. They talk. We listen.
Yes, Big Media blogs. Sort of. But the aristocracy of the Fourth Estate rarely, if ever, mixes with the plebes in the comment threads. Why not? Because it is a lecture, not discourse. They talk. We listen. Sure, we can talk among ourselves while we await their next proclamation, but the Earls and Dukes won’t actually reason with us. They refuse to defend their veracity, their reasoning, and their conclusions. As a result, they are increasingly ignored.
A writer from a major newspaper recently remarked how his industry holds tabloids in contempt. To an increasing number of people, it’s all the same: made-up stuff or very-poorly-sourced-and-heavily-slanted stuff intended more to incite or excite than to enlighten. Newspapers could have such a great role in public discourse. But in these wonderful, disintermediating times they would have to actually engage in discourse, and that’s a leap they seem unable to make.
posted by steve u. at 8/13/2008
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5 Comments:
And JM even gets a bonus point on his comment, for working in vouchers. He can drop that little topper in a thread faster than a Michael Scott "That's what she said."
And, JM, sorry to break it to you, buddy. According to the scale I stepped on yesterday, there are few members of the species as big as I am.
Now if Big Media are the Dukes and Earls, does that mean us lowly bloggers are mere serfs?
I'm 6'4", 280.
I mean, I'm not Carlton Christensen, or anything, but I'm hardly new potatoes.
AND! Admit it, the voucher line made you laugh. THAT, sir, was comedy GOLD.
LOL
Very astute observation, Steve. And something we can agree on.
Big Media, however, is dollar driven, so like Congress, the only power we the public have to encourage a change is the "power of the purse." As long as we subscribe and tune in, they have no incentive to be responsive to a desire for real discourse.
This debate you've been having (and it's importance), as well as thousands of others that happen online each and every day, do more to promote educated voting and informed citizen activism than any newspaper or large media organization would ever profit from doing.
It's an argument against relaxing media consolidation rules, and a case for protecting a neutral internet (unfortunately, two issues your party - at large - consistently votes against on a federal level).
JM,
The classics just get better with age. The only thing that could have possibly been better would be if you'd then pointed to my chest and asked, "What's that spot? AHHH!"
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