Web 2.0: Threat or Blessing?
In this podcast, Nora Young talks about Andrew Keen, author of The Cult of the Amateur, about the danger that Web 2.0 and user-generated culture is destroying traditional journalism and arts.
Meanwhile, Cathi Bond discusses this New York Times look at architect-designed plans that you can have customized for $10,000. Would you do this for your home?
July 21st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Nora,
Does Keen actually defend the lackluster standards of ‘traditional media’?
He is quoted as describing Web 2.0 as similar to Communist society, which is hilarious, considering it’s marriage to millions upon millions of start up capital!
Sure there’s lots of crap out there, but contrary to traditional media this democratized’ landscape has the actual potential to let the cream rise to the top.
July 21st, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I suggested to him that part of the reason blogs etc became so popular is that MSM had in large measure abrogated their responsibility, relying instead on things like personal columnists etc (I’m looking at you, Globe and Mail). I should probably have used the specific example of American press and the whole WMD in Iraq debacle. He did allow that this was a wake up call for the sectors of mainstream media that have been underperforming. It’s interesting; we got a lot of mail about the interview afterwards, and this was the point that most listeners were really on top of, that mainstream media is really appalling, for the most part. A wake-up call for mass media indeed. A podcast of the interview is here
http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/pastpodcasts.html?25#ref25
if you are interested, though I suspect it will just make your blood pressure go through the roof!
July 21st, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Hi,
I’m sorry this is a little off topic, I hope you don’t mind. As you’ve discussed Andrew Keen’s book I’m hoping you, or your audience might be interesting in taking part in a short survey.
I’m looking at how people judge the credibility of information they find on the internet, specifically news blogs. This will make up the research component of my MA a London Metropolitan University.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=CoCbKZdSTS3qUs_2f2UFpnkw_3d_3d
Many Thanks
Penny Buckmaster