My previous article, below, concerns why we need professional journalists and when I tweeted this, I lost more followers than any other tweet, so it made me think.
Just because the law needs to be respected and our media organizations are firing long standing voices with the journalistic vernacular I did not mean to sound like I particularly appreciated them, nor necessarily those left behind, neither.
The broad public have noticed how their rights in relation to their governments are more democratic now that the establishment media do not rule what is published - however legal responsibilities exist. Previously, when a tabloid did something that was covered by defamation laws, there was a pile of money for redress of such terrible sins. If you commit contempt of court as a journalist, then it may be career advancing as your media body rescues your butt from her majesty's service.
But, if a blogger comments on what an outcome in a trial should be, and they have a following who spread their view, they may feel immune from contempt charges as they are publishing to a "club" or select audience. In other words, privately.
This difference between public and private is indeed a sticky one. If for example I were to tweet the winning numbers in the next national lottery, the outcome is most likely to be a number of fools who take my word for it and rush down to the local newsagent. That is a system the truth can not cheat due to the nature of time.
But if I were to simply say I thought that Jack the Ripper was guilty as charged, then Jack may end up citing my prejudice as swaying the jury leaving him free to execute a few more sex workers with few legal hassles. Not such a great outcome.
Professional journalists are becoming extincted by free alternatives. How many other professions are facing similar redundancy due to evolving efficiency? You can not object to the phasing out of the old as we rush for the new, but in some cases we must hesitate. For example, TXTSPK is all well and good but is not a reason to forgo the beauty of the English Language.
But perhaps the problem with the media is that polarisation that used to work for them now does not. In some small way, Jerry Springer brought Oprah more viewers and vice versa. Now, the audience is far more cynical. The turn off factor is far greater now that you can get TV from all sorts of different places. Not just an authoritarian filter. Not just what the Press Barons have colluded with The Powers That Be should be inflated by the breath of authority.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Balance of Truth
The Solicitor General's Office is investigating a Facebook page that seeks to predict the outcome of a case before the courts while the trial is in progress, thus prejudicially affecting the outcome.
Bloggers have to beware and be aware that saying anything about a case before the courts may affect outcomes. The above Facebook page may prevent a conviction whether one was a good idea or not, by attacking a defense, these vigilantes make the job of the police impossible.
They may have found justification from the other "publicly perceived" case of recent times. The supposed perception (or result of polling) of the public or the gathering of people prior to fair hearing is just a lynch mob.
The Media partly exists as a means for the public dissemination of the putrid details that we can discuss without damaging the state's ability to put away the monsters and dig out the unfortunates that get caught up in the justice juggernaut.
Blogging is a freedom of communication but does not replace the primary responsibility of the journalist, except for the most committed train spotters - bloggers only really can comment, most often they are not witnesses, but perhaps at their most relevant is when eyewitness to events feed the media with an immediate point of view. If blogging were the feed for the media there is a danger of an absence of any investigative journalism.
Where does the authenticity go when it is all just republishing? No, the media is more about local news and businesses than ever before.
As the major media outlets let people go with the lack of trust that the wheels will turn and people will spend and respond to advertising and online means are explored - a never ending experiment on the web. Those with software vision like Amazon now command great Empires of the new world.
But the Media has now to play its trump card. Before it lets go too many of its very talented. Hosting better public political debate and commentary will engage a huge audience and we have all the tools to produce a genuine public discussion where all voices can have meaning.
Reporters are needed to dig up the truth. To professionally find out. Most of us are too embarrassed or shy to persist long enough to dig up the dirt on the Bernie Madoffs that would deceive us. Criminality takes more than just enforcement to conquer. Information is freedom. Democracy can not be claimed without a free active and digging media, keeping them honest.
Social Integrity is not guaranteed without it.
Bloggers have to beware and be aware that saying anything about a case before the courts may affect outcomes. The above Facebook page may prevent a conviction whether one was a good idea or not, by attacking a defense, these vigilantes make the job of the police impossible.
They may have found justification from the other "publicly perceived" case of recent times. The supposed perception (or result of polling) of the public or the gathering of people prior to fair hearing is just a lynch mob.
The Media partly exists as a means for the public dissemination of the putrid details that we can discuss without damaging the state's ability to put away the monsters and dig out the unfortunates that get caught up in the justice juggernaut.
Blogging is a freedom of communication but does not replace the primary responsibility of the journalist, except for the most committed train spotters - bloggers only really can comment, most often they are not witnesses, but perhaps at their most relevant is when eyewitness to events feed the media with an immediate point of view. If blogging were the feed for the media there is a danger of an absence of any investigative journalism.
Where does the authenticity go when it is all just republishing? No, the media is more about local news and businesses than ever before.
As the major media outlets let people go with the lack of trust that the wheels will turn and people will spend and respond to advertising and online means are explored - a never ending experiment on the web. Those with software vision like Amazon now command great Empires of the new world.
But the Media has now to play its trump card. Before it lets go too many of its very talented. Hosting better public political debate and commentary will engage a huge audience and we have all the tools to produce a genuine public discussion where all voices can have meaning.
Reporters are needed to dig up the truth. To professionally find out. Most of us are too embarrassed or shy to persist long enough to dig up the dirt on the Bernie Madoffs that would deceive us. Criminality takes more than just enforcement to conquer. Information is freedom. Democracy can not be claimed without a free active and digging media, keeping them honest.
Social Integrity is not guaranteed without it.
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