New forms of media publishing

The world today isn't the same as yesterday. The communication world is currently entering a new evolution, where broadcasting and mainstream media begin to decline. John Naughton (2006) wrote that the world of communication is now entering a net-centric world where the Internet is becoming a dominant media. One of the new trends that revolutionize this change is blogging and citizen journalism. According to Naughton again (2006), the growth of bloggers, with a few experts help building up the public sphere which is now declining, as they have a platform that alter the role of journalism who were monopolizing as gatekeepers of information.

 For example, the September 11 events were officially known by the mainstream media as a terrorist attack done by the Al-Qaeda network. However, the court of public opinion begins to shift when there is another angle of the story "exposed" by the American alternative media indicating that the 9/11 events are an "inside job". One of the most credible alternative sources was from investigative journalist, Alex Jones (prisonplanet.com), who launched 2 hour video documentaries explaining the truths behind the events. Thus, Alex Jones, as well as many other bloggers and journalists who are also spreading the same message begin to question the role of the mainstream media as gatekeepers of information. At the same time, the public sphere was reinforced as people begin to argue for truth.

Source: Murph Reports

Caption: Pictures of demonstrations on 9/11 truth done by alternative media.

Reference: Naughton, J, 2006, Blogging and The Emerging Media Ecosystem, viewed April 19, 2010, <http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fileadmin/documents/discussion/blogging.pdf>