Democratization Of Media and The Role Of The Citizen

Since the advent of the printing press, the flow of information and the dissemination of knowledge has become more and more accessible to the wider public, both in providing them access to, and involving them in the spread of information. With each technological disruption (especially that of social media) this effect has only increased, such that we are now almost constantly inundated. The democratization and influx of media has led to a need for citizens to truly understand how their news ecosystems function so that they can effectively and beneficially participate in it by acquiring media literacy. This paper will examine the roles of journalism and how this newfound accessibility can both help and hinder the fulfilment of these roles. It will also look at the importance of being able to separate good journalism from the mass of information available. Based on the knowledge acquired during this course, we see that these skills are essential to avoid falling prey to mis- and disinformation, while also maintaining a balanced and healthy viewpoint.

Through most of history, news and the flow of information has been controlled by a select few institutions, whether these be organizations dedicated to that purpose, or those in power. Modern technology, especially the internet, has greatly altered this. Formats like podcasts, blogs, or social media platforms have very low entrance barriers compared with traditional platforms. As such, information flow has become largely democratized and accessible to the average person.

One of the roles associated with journalism is that of the watchdog: holding power to account. This is a role which was typically fulfilled by traditional journalistic organizations through investigative journalism. In many cases, like the Watergate scandal, these large-scale investigations were made possible because of the infrastructure available to the organizations involved. While this sort of infrastructure is not easily available to the public, the accessibility of other platforms allows the public to act in this role in other ways. One example of this is the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Triggered by a social media post which showed video footage of George Floyd’s murder. The video sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and a larger movement to defund the police. While social media offers a platform for movements to organize, podcasts offer a platform for long form investigative content to be shared.

Another of journalism's roles is sharing sufficient and accurate information. This information influences almost every aspect of our lives, be it informing us of the platforms and policies of those we vote into power, or the prices of bread. Social media can also act in this role, providing up to date, minute by minute news, often accompanied by videos, images, and testimonies straight from the source. However, it does pose the issue of having a plethora of unverified information intermixed with the media being consumed by the public. As such, we find that mis- and disinformation is a significant issue. Both consumers and larger organizations can be affected by the spread of mis- and disinformation, as actions and statements based on unverified posts will later have to be retracted when proven false.

To avoid mis- and disinformation, consumers must be able to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate news. This is where codes of ethics come in, guidelines which outline the publisher's intentions and morals so that we know what we are reading and any hidden agenda behind it. When looking at news not posted by organizations, these are not always present, however one can still check sources or look for ethics and values portrayed in the work itself.

The final role associated with journalism is the presentation of diverse opinions. For people to be represented in the legislative sphere, the media must accurately reflect the populace. In traditional media, this takes form in concentration versus diversity of ownership. In concentrated ownership, where most media are owned by the same few conglomerates, we see a distinct lack of diversity, as there will be a limited target audience and therefore limited points of view addressed. For traditional media to increase diversity in the news ecosystem there must be diversity of ownership, allowing organizations to accurately represent their constituencies and better fulfill their needs. What’s significant to the readers of an organization like Indigenews would be very different from those reading The Sun or The Citizen.

Unfortunately, with a decrease in viewership for traditional platforms, it is difficult for independent organizations to support themselves, and so we see many being bought out by large media conglomerates. The democratization of media allows for marginalized and minority communities to represent themselves, giving them a platform to be heard on, and have their needs represented to the legislative sphere.

As important as it is for diversity to be represented to the legislative sphere, it is equally important for each person to have diversity in the news media they consume. This is one of the drawbacks of social media, as, unless consciously avoided, it is easy to follow the algorithm until you find yourself in an echo chamber, your own opinions seemingly confirmed again and again. Exposing yourself to limited perspectives drastically narrows your worldview, decreasing your ability to relate to and empathize with others. To avoid this, the public must maintain an active stance in their news ecosystem, deliberately seeking to understand and engage with it. They must check sources, advocate for diversity, and generally try to keep up with and consume a variety of perspectives.

The democratization of media and information flow has led to a greater need for the people to fully understand their news ecosystems. This involves comprehending both the roles that journalism is meant to fulfill, and how the change of technology has affected the ways in which they are fulfilled. Citizens must understand their own roles both in interacting with media and in being a proponent of it (through low entrance barrier platforms and formats), and the responsibility that comes with that. They must also learn to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks that come with this accessibility, and how to use it to its greatest advantage. To maintain a healthy news ecosystem, we must play an active role within the news ecosystem, always seeking to educate and better ourselves and the world around us.