New and Old Media, Participation, and Information

March 1

The profusion of low-cost media production and distribution has led to the rise of an alternative citizen-led media sector. Is this a passing fad of enthusiastic amateurs or the beginning of a fundamental restructuring of the way media and news are produced and consumed? Will the current trends lead to more information, better information, and better informed people or to an infinite stream of unreliable chatter? Will it lead to a more politically engaged populace or to an increasingly polarized society that picks its sources of information to match its biases and ignorance?

Readings

• Media Re:public Overview - Read at least the executive summary
• Knight Commission Report on Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy - Read at least the executive summary, recommendations and conclusions
• Knight Commission report website
• Pennenberg, WikiLeaks' Julian Assange: 'Anarchist,' 'agitator,' 'arrogant' and a journalist

Optional Readings

• Jay Rosen, Open Source Journalism (video)
• We The Media, Dan Gillmor (the Introduction is a good start, so to speak)
• Jay Rosen, Bloggers vs. Journalists Is Over
• Shirky on Social Media