Media has always been the voice of the people - well some of them anyway. Over time this number has grown - parallel with developments, some ground-breaking in education, technology, industry, equality, and culture. But who are 'the people'? And are they still in control?
Let's suppose for a second the goal of New media from the beginning was to provide a voice to every individual - has it succeeded?
Let's suppose for a second the goal of New media from the beginning was to provide a voice to every individual - has it succeeded?
How long would a total revolution from a top-down media system take? Most would agree its' face is already unrecognisable, and be quick to knock the makeover. What have we lost? What have we gained? What must be noted, is whether ideas are groundbreaking or not is irrelevant (in much the way we cannot assume that every time someones' opens their mouth a topic worthy of conversation will sputter out). It boils down to the management of that clutter, its' prioritisation and that old chest nut, media literacy.
The unwillingness of even western democracies to embrace New Media speaks all to loudly to a fear of loss of control. American President Barack Obama, who was elected on the back of landslide New Media fanfare, is himself dismissive of the topic. Where it was thought his election might usher in 'digital-driven democratic change' (Tapscott, 2010), 'instead (the White House New Media team) find themselves shunted off the sidelines, used at best as PR prop.'
The use of New Media to not only organise but sustain revolution (namely those in Egypt and ongoing in Libya) in the face of top-down corruption (which may be viewed as to any corrupt bureaucracy) is now not only clear, but glaring. It now calls for an admittance on on the part of Western policy-makers; as highlighted by Hilary Clinton's inaction through action towards' Internet freedom' (Shirky, 2011); that either the gravity of New Media tools remains beyond their comprehension, or that they have something to hide.
References
Shirky, C. (2011). The Political Power of Social Media: Technology, the Public Sphere, and Political Change in Foreign Affairs. Volume 90, Issue 1; pg. 28, 15 pgs.
Tappscott, M. (2010). New Media leader exposes myth of Obama's 'bottom-up' Internet-driven 2008 campaign. Accessed March 28, 2011. http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/new-media-leader-exposes-myth-obama039s-039bottom-up039-internet-driven-20#ixzz1HsIDJYVy
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