The questions of “whose truth?” and “why this truth?” in constructing and receiving news have become more pressing as media literacy among news-consumers has evolved, and with the advent of the Internet there exists now not only the opportunity, but an actual reality in which any online-user can fulfil the roles of watchdog, whistle-blower, informer, public service announcer1.
Editor Zed’s interest is centred on the arena and events in which this role reversal is most acutely highlighted2 – the disaster – and what “truth-telling” and “accountability” mean in an era where public broadcasting is merely a click away3. Unfounded rumours abounded on Twitter during the July London Riots, often causing more anxiety than assistance. Accusations of Muslim responsibility for the Oslo Massacre began on the blogosphere, and found their way into newspaper copy.
An example of some of the rumours and Twitter updates that have said to fuel the fire of the London Riots (source)
While we as a society have placed our collective trust in journalism’s hands, and have at times snatched it back again4, it continues to co-opt legitimacy in the media landscape5. More interesting still is the blurring of user-generated-content with professional journalism6, as we see more and more news-rooms deriving their own content, particularly during scenes of disaster, from Twitter feeds and Wikipedia edits7.
Readers of Editor Zed are those who too are curious, and perhaps suspicious, about how we delegate legitimacy and trust in the new media environment – and what the implications and repercussions of such trust will be.
1. McQuail, Dennis (2010), Mass Communication Theory, London, Sage.
2. Matheson, Donald (2004), 'Weblogs and the epistemology of the news: Some trends in online journalism', New Media & Society, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 443-468.
3. Lowrey, Wilson and Anderson, William (2005), 'The journalist behind the curtain: Participatory functions on the Internet and their impact on perceptions of the work of journalism', Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 143-164.
4. Izard, Ralph (1985), 'Public confidence in the news media', Journalism Quarterly, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 247-255.
5. Clayman, Steven (2002), 'Tribune of the people: Maintaining the legitimacy of aggressive journalism', Media, Culture & Society, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 197-216.
6. Flew, Terry (2008), 'Citizen journalism', New Media: An Introduction, South Melbourne, Oxford University Press, pp. 143-167.
7. Bromley, Rebekah and Bowles, Dorothy (1995), 'The impact of internet on use of traditional news media', Newspaper Research Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 14-27.
1. McQuail, Dennis (2010), Mass Communication Theory, London, Sage.
2. Matheson, Donald (2004), 'Weblogs and the epistemology of the news: Some trends in online journalism', New Media & Society, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 443-468.
3. Lowrey, Wilson and Anderson, William (2005), 'The journalist behind the curtain: Participatory functions on the Internet and their impact on perceptions of the work of journalism', Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 143-164.
4. Izard, Ralph (1985), 'Public confidence in the news media', Journalism Quarterly, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 247-255.
5. Clayman, Steven (2002), 'Tribune of the people: Maintaining the legitimacy of aggressive journalism', Media, Culture & Society, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 197-216.
6. Flew, Terry (2008), 'Citizen journalism', New Media: An Introduction, South Melbourne, Oxford University Press, pp. 143-167.
7. Bromley, Rebekah and Bowles, Dorothy (1995), 'The impact of internet on use of traditional news media', Newspaper Research Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 14-27.
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