Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Week 5, Meikle, E Open News
From Meikles’s writing it questions whether news can ever be completely open because even though Indymedia want to promote open reporting, there is still a type of control put on it. By changing the format of the website to ‘promote certain issues above others’ mirrors the idea of a print newspaper, by putting the most important story on the front page, and proves the idea of control. The idea of open news is criticised because someone is still controlling what stories they believe are going to be ‘more effective’ and this will reflect the same ideas that are shown in other news mediums. Also, the stories in which people write about will probably be influenced by stories which are happening in real life. For example, if there is an issue which someone feels is written correctly, and then they may write their own. So the idea of the story is still heavily influenced by that of existing news, and then other people have the ability to edit and add information to your story, which follows the same sort of ‘editing processes as what a story would do in a newspaper. Therefore, even though there is a lot of freedom in this open news style and every individual does have the right to produce their own story, there is an issue which contradict the idea, and may prove that open news is never completely open!
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i see what you mean by all of the news being controlled. And yes i do think that some websites do immitate newspapers in the fact that certain stories headline others, however i just think that that is the nature of news.
ReplyDeleteBut do you think that it is giving a hierarchy to news in a space where there isn't meant to be one? In Meikle's writing it is about allowing everyone to be a journalist and taking away the power from the capitalist organisations, do you think this still emphasises a type of power to people control?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah that there is a nature of the news. There will always be similar stories or headlines of different websites because the main articles will be the big news events which effect many people.
ReplyDeleteI think your point Claire emphasises why most of us have claimed we do not read these open news websites. Because anyone can be a journalist it does take away a sense of trust and power in their online content.
Good points here again. What about that hierarchy thing though, and the issue of "anyone can be a journalist"? Leaving aside arguments about who has access (so not anyone) what you are saying here is indicating to me that that there is a certain amount of self-generated quality control in regard to internet news. Yes, in theory many people can write news, but the issue is who (if anyone) reads that news - and as you say, people are very selective.
ReplyDeleteA similar point - and link to my comments on Lucy's page - is the idea that people don't only go for waht they trust, they go for what they are comfortable and safe with. Waht am I talking about?!