Comments on: Citizen journalism for an unharmonious world http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/ Dispatches from somewhere far away Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:50:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jeremy http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-752 Jeremy Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:06:17 +0000 http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-752 Journalists are often guilty of very strong bias themselves. A great example is the presentation of the housing bubble by the mainstream media until recently. For every three 'experts' from the real estate industry they quoted (NAR spokesman, homebuilder association spokesman, etc) there would be one balanced perspective at most. Ignoring, of course, all previous predictive ability and the conflict of interest inherent in their positions, didn't (and doesn't) help to present a balanced view of the housing market. The Housing Bubble Blog and other sites took stories from news sources everywhere to present a more balanced (although obviously biased in the sense of flat out believing there was a housing bubble) view of the housing market. They did what journalists should have been doing. "Citizen Journalism" is a great development - and should be giving 'real' journalists a run for their money. Nice analysis and opinions, Chris. Journalists are often guilty of very strong bias themselves.

A great example is the presentation of the housing bubble by the mainstream media until recently. For every three ‘experts’ from the real estate industry they quoted (NAR spokesman, homebuilder association spokesman, etc) there would be one balanced perspective at most. Ignoring, of course, all previous predictive ability and the conflict of interest inherent in their positions, didn’t (and doesn’t) help to present a balanced view of the housing market.

The Housing Bubble Blog and other sites took stories from news sources everywhere to present a more balanced (although obviously biased in the sense of flat out believing there was a housing bubble) view of the housing market. They did what journalists should have been doing.

“Citizen Journalism” is a great development - and should be giving ‘real’ journalists a run for their money. Nice analysis and opinions, Chris.

]]> By: CSW http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-734 CSW Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:19:13 +0000 http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-734 Alex - Have a look at the above link that I posted on the still emerging Al Dura scandal. I don't know if you remember it, but it was about a year before September 11 and in killing Daniel Pearl, his persecutors cited Al Dura (the "killing" of a kid and his father in a gun battle between Israelis and Palestinians). It turns out that this was likely fake. Not only are the people who shot the footage trying to cover up the and obfuscate the circumstances under which the video was shot, but they are suing for defamation of character from their principle accuser. The Al Dura photos crystallized Arab world (and much of the rest of the world) opinion against Israel and for action and it was in the lead up to September 11. Yes, legal suits can be used as protection for the truth, but apparently not so much in France. Legal suits are also quite expensive and defamation difficult to prove particularly if the slant is slight but persistent. At least with the internet there is some level of accountability for mainstream "journalists" where research can be made on "the other side" however 'rumour driven' it is and readers can make choices for themselves. Clement Alex -

Have a look at the above link that I posted on the still emerging Al Dura scandal. I don’t know if you remember it, but it was about a year before September 11 and in killing Daniel Pearl, his persecutors cited Al Dura (the “killing” of a kid and his father in a gun battle between Israelis and Palestinians).

It turns out that this was likely fake. Not only are the people who shot the footage trying to cover up the and obfuscate the circumstances under which the video was shot, but they are suing for defamation of character from their principle accuser. The Al Dura photos crystallized Arab world (and much of the rest of the world) opinion against Israel and for action and it was in the lead up to September 11. Yes, legal suits can be used as protection for the truth, but apparently not so much in France. Legal suits are also quite expensive and defamation difficult to prove particularly if the slant is slight but persistent. At least with the internet there is some level of accountability for mainstream “journalists” where research can be made on “the other side” however ‘rumour driven’ it is and readers can make choices for themselves.

Clement

]]> By: alex http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-730 alex Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:33:13 +0000 http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-730 Highly research reportage... someone pumping out a story to fill an empty column... a random comment... not saying anything. Somewhat of a continium and dependent on the skill of an individual and they skills they've learnt. Regulation, regulation, regulation. Not a good thing. Being part of a major media organisation doesn't make Fox News or The Sun particularly impartial. The law provides a very convenient and trusted method of discouraging rumour: the lawsuit. Stopping (or at least trying to stop) Internet rumour is not just a process of asking bloggers to register, it must apply to every blog, forum topic, uploaded photo and video, even every comment, on the Internet - somewhat similar to the extensive regulation the Chinese domestic Internet sector faces - exactly the same comparison you used approached from another angle. Highly research reportage… someone pumping out a story to fill an empty column… a random comment… not saying anything. Somewhat of a continium and dependent on the skill of an individual and they skills they’ve learnt.

Regulation, regulation, regulation. Not a good thing. Being part of a major media organisation doesn’t make Fox News or The Sun particularly impartial. The law provides a very convenient and trusted method of discouraging rumour: the lawsuit.

Stopping (or at least trying to stop) Internet rumour is not just a process of asking bloggers to register, it must apply to every blog, forum topic, uploaded photo and video, even every comment, on the Internet - somewhat similar to the extensive regulation the Chinese domestic Internet sector faces - exactly the same comparison you used approached from another angle.

]]> By: CSW http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-726 CSW Thu, 20 Dec 2007 02:11:03 +0000 http://www.chrisamico.com/2007/12/19/citizen-journalism-for-an-unharmonious-world/#comment-726 Chris - This is a story that just isn't being followed by much of the media: http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/12/sued_by_french_tv_a_conversati.php Frankly, I think it's stunning. If there's ever been a reason to question the accuracy of what's being reported - and worse, the lack of accountability within journalism's own ranks (as PJM notes, this is far worse than the scandals with Rather), this is it. Comments from these protectionists on what gets out to readers/viewers should be read in this light. Clement Chris -

This is a story that just isn’t being followed by much of the media:
http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/12/sued_by_french_tv_a_conversati.php

Frankly, I think it’s stunning. If there’s ever been a reason to question the accuracy of what’s being reported - and worse, the lack of accountability within journalism’s own ranks (as PJM notes, this is far worse than the scandals with Rather), this is it. Comments from these protectionists on what gets out to readers/viewers should be read in this light.

Clement

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