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?

Some of the positive developments of the internet that Bill Thompson has highlighted is that the network connects us to other people, it provides a great source of information, it can be used for campaigning and political action, to draw attention to abuses and fight for human rights. It’s a great place for gaming and education, which can also be used to make a lot of money (for a few people) as well as a place where you can meet your friends. 

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

Some negatives and dangers that are linked to the internet is a lot of bullying and abuse takes place there. There’s pornography that you don’t want to see, and illegal images of child abuse that you might come across. Extremists and radicals can use the network to try to influence people to join their cause, and fraud, scams, rip-offs and malicious software are everywhere.

3) What does ‘open technology’ refer to? Do you agree with the idea of ‘open technology’?

Open technology refers to open society based around the principles of equality of opportunity, social justice and free expression. I agree with this idea of open technology as Thompson talks about how technology should encourage a diverse online culture that allows all voices to be heard.

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

Some of the challenges and questions that Thompson highlights of the internet is what could the internet do for you and your friends, and what could you make it do? Journalists describe the world, but

we have the opportunity to shape it; and a connected world that runs on the internet is a great tool if you know how to use it. We care about privacy – So how can the network deliver that? We care about other people around the world, and want a fairer, more just world – so how can the network help there?

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

I feel like the internet is both a safe and harmful place for users to be on. This is because of the amount of unregulated content that everyone has access to and how easy it is to be exposed to harmful or age restricted content which is one of the many examples of the internet not being a safe place. However, at the same time, the internet helps keeps us connected with our friends and family and allows use to communicate and build better relationships with each other.  

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 define a profession as something that define the ways in which it is more than just a job. In the case of newspapers, professional behavior is guided both by the commercial imperative and by an additional set of norms about what newspapers are, how they should be staffed and run, what constitutes good journalism, and so forth. These norms are enforced not by the customers but by other professionals in the same business. 

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

The question facing the newspaper industry ever since the internet has created a 'new ecosystem' is that the future presented by the internet is the mass amateurization of publishing and a switch from "Why

publish this ?" to "Why not?". Furthermore, another question they are facing is "What happens

when the costs of reproduction and distribution go away? What happens when there's nothing unique about publishing anymore, because users can do it for themselves?" This shows the amount of endangerment the newspaper industry is because of the internet. 

3) Why did Trent Lott’s speech in 2002 become news?

Trent Lott's speech in 2002 became news as At Thurmond's hundredth birthday party Lott remembered and praised Thurmond's presidential campaign of fifty years earlier and recalled Mississippi's support for it: "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

4) What is ‘mass amateurisation’?

Mass amateurization is a new form of media given to consumers through the internet for them to use and access as they want. 

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’?

This can be linked to the current media landscape and especially fake news due to the rise of the internet and technology this is because of the amount of unregulated content on the internet linking back to Shirkys idea of "the same idea being published in dozens or hundreds of places" which the smaller number of professional outlets have no control over as the internet is not controlled by anyone and people can repost and share ideas or thoughts which can be interpreted by others in different ways. 

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 about the social effects of technological change that we are currently in the mists of a internet revolution.

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

Clay shirky means that being a publisher isn't limited to a company or people with stereotypical power. A publisher can be anyone even people at home due to the rise of  UGC. This is important because as it allows regular people to have a voice in the media and their opinions can be heard.  

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?

Clay shirky suggests that the popularity of print has gone down after the revolution. 

9) Why is photography a good example of ‘mass amateurisation’?

Photography is an example of  mass amateurisation as cameras where rare to see amongst people because they were expensive and people really didn't see the need for them. However the prices went down dramatically. This lead to people in the mases buying and using cameras un their daily life.

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? 

I think that this is a positive thing and that we are currently in a era of mass amateurisation and not intellectual and political chaos.