Clay Shirky: End of audience blog tasks

Clay Shirky: End of audience blog tasks

Media Magazine reading:

Media Magazine 55 has an overview of technology journalist Bill Thompson’s conference presentation on ‘What has the internet ever done for me?’ It’s an excellent summary of the internet’s brief history and its impact on society. Go to our Media Magazine archive, click on MM55 and scroll to page 13 to read the article ‘What has the internet ever done for me?’ Answer the following questions:

1) Looking over the article as a whole, what are some of the positive developments due to the internet highlighted by Bill Thompson?

Global Connectivity: Thompson emphasizes how the internet initially connected separate university networks, allowing students and researchers to communicate through email and share files. This began the trend of global communication that allows people around the world to easily interact.

Innovation and Openness: The internet's structure, which doesn't discriminate based on the type of data, has allowed for tremendous innovation. Thompson mentions the development of services like email, the web, and later platforms like Spotify and Snapchat. This openness has empowered developers to create new services and technologies.

2) What are the negatives or dangers linked to the development of the internet?

Uncontrolled Content: The internet's openness, which allows for innovation, also makes it difficult to regulate harmful activities. Thompson points out that the same infrastructure enabling beneficial services like email and the web also facilitates the spread of harmful content such as spam, abuse, and even illegal activities like the distribution of child abuse imagery.

3) What does ‘open technology’ refer to? Do you agree with the idea of ‘open technology’?
"open technology" refers to technology, like the internet, that is not controlled or regulated by a central authority and allows for any kind of data exchange or service creation. 

4) Bill Thompson outlines some of the challenges and questions for the future of the internet. What are they?

Access and Awareness: Thompson notes that many people are using the internet without realizing it, as seen in the example of Facebook users in Indonesia who didn’t know they were using the internet. This lack of awareness leads to a broader challenge of digital literacy and ensuring that people understand the implications of their online activity, such as privacy, data collection, and security.

Regulation vs. Openness: One of the biggest challenges is finding a balance between keeping the internet open and free, while also regulating harmful content and activities.

5) Where do you stand on the use and regulation of the internet? Should there be more control or more openness? Why?

I believe that balanced regulation is essential, but it should be carefully tailored to avoid stifling innovation or restricting freedom of expression. 

Clay Shirky: Here Comes Everybody

Clay Shirky’s book Here Comes Everybody charts the way social media and connectivity is changing the world. Read Chapter 3 of his book, ‘Everyone is a media outlet’, and answer the following questions:

1) How does Shirky define a ‘profession’ and why does it apply to the traditional newspaper industry?

Shirky argues that the traditional newspaper industry fits this definition of a profession because:

1. Specialized Knowledge: Journalism, particularly in print, has long required specialized skills, such as investigative reporting, fact-checking, editing, and the ability to write with clarity and authority.

2. Gatekeeping Role: Newspapers and journalists have historically acted as gatekeepers of information. Before the rise of the internet and social media, access to information and the ability to broadcast news to the public was controlled by a small group of media professionals, such as editors and publishers. This ensured that only vetted, credible information was disseminated.

Shirky emphasises that with the rise of social media and digital platforms, this professional model has been disrupted.

2) What is the question facing the newspaper industry now the internet has created a “new ecosystem”?

Facing the newspaper industry is how to adapt to a world where the internet has decentralised information production and distribution. The traditional model of newspapers, where a small group of professional journalists controlled the flow of news, has been disrupted by the internet, which allows anyone to create and share content. The industry is grappling with how to stay relevant and profitable in a media landscape where their gatekeeping role has been diminished, and advertising revenue has shifted to online platforms.

3) Why did Trent Lott’s speech in 2002 become news?
Trent Lott, a U.S. Senator, made a controversial remark during a birthday event for Senator Strom Thurmond, expressing support for Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign. Initially, mainstream media outlets ignored or downplayed the comment. However, the story gained traction on blogs and social media, which kept the issue alive, leading to public outcry and eventually forcing the traditional media to report on it. This marked a significant shift, as online amateur journalists played a major role in breaking a politically important story, which would traditionally have been the role of the professional press. 

4) What is ‘mass amateurisation’?
Shirky defines 'mass amateurisation' as the process by which tools and platforms that were once exclusive to professionals become available to the general public, allowing amateurs to produce and share content that was previously limited to experts.

5) Shirky suggests that: “The same idea, published in dozens or hundreds of places, can have an amplifying effect that outweighs the verdict from the smaller number of professional outlets.” How can this be linked to the current media landscape and particularly ‘fake news’?
Shirky’s idea that “the same idea, published in dozens or hundreds of places, can have an amplifying effect” is closely linked to the spread of fake news in today’s media landscape. In the age of social media, misinformation or false stories can be shared and amplified by large numbers of users, often spreading faster than fact-checked, professional reporting. The viral nature of these stories, coupled with algorithms that prioritize engagement, means that fake news can reach a vast audience, sometimes overshadowing the work of professional outlets.

6) What does Shirky suggest about the social effects of technological change? Does this mean we are currently in the midst of the internet “revolution” or “chaos” Shirky mentions?

Shirky suggests that technological change, especially with regard to the internet, has profound social effects and often leads to periods of disruption and upheaval before society fully adjusts to the new paradigm. He argues that we are in the midst of a revolutionary shift brought about by the internet, where old structures are breaking down (such as the professional media industry) and new models are emerging. This transition period can feel chaotic, as the traditional ways of organizing information, communication, and business are upended by digital connectivity.

We are likely in the midst of this "internet revolution", where new norms and practices are still being established, and the full impact of the internet is not yet understood.

7) Shirky says that “anyone can be a publisher… [and] anyone can be a journalist”. What does this mean and why is it important?

Shirky’s statement reflects the democratization of media production enabled by the internet. Anyone with access to the internet can now publish content, report news, or share their perspective with a potentially global audience. This is important because it challenges the traditional monopoly that professional journalists and media outlets held over public communication and news dissemination. It means that alternative voices and perspectives can be heard, allowing for greater diversity in media. 

8) What does Shirky suggest regarding the hundred years following the printing press revolution? Is there any evidence of this “intellectual and political chaos” in recent global events following the internet revolution?

Shirky suggests that the century following the invention of the printing press was characterized by intellectual and political chaos, as the mass production of books and pamphlets spread new ideas rapidly, leading to societal upheaval, including the Protestant Reformation and significant political conflict in Europe. Similarly, the internet revolution is causing disruptions in how information is distributed and consumed, leading to chaos in various sectors, including politics, media, and education.

9) Why is photography a good example of ‘mass amateurisation’?
Photography is a prime example of mass amateurisation because, in the past, it required specialized skills, equipment, and professional development to take and produce high-quality images. The advent of digital cameras and smartphones with advanced camera technology has made photography accessible to everyone, enabling amateurs to take and share high-quality photos without professional training. Platforms like Instagram have empowered ordinary people to become photographers and content creators, contributing to the mass production of visual content that was once the domain of professionals.

10) What do you think of Shirky’s ideas on the ‘End of audience’? Is this era of ‘mass amateurisation’ a positive thing? Or are we in a period of “intellectual and political chaos” where things are more broken than fixed? 

Shirky’s concept of the ‘End of audience’ suggests that we have moved away from a traditional, passive audience model where people simply consume media created by professionals. Instead, audiences are now participants and creatorsthemselves, contributing to the media landscape through social media, blogs, videos, and other forms of user-generated content. This can be seen as a positive development, as it democratises content production and gives more people a voice.