On Tuesday we had a speaker in our Independent media class. Every student enjoys a class period dedicated to a speaker because it means we can put off our assigned reading for another few days, not have the anxiety of being called on to comment on the class readings, and ultimately the speaker usually has a cool story to tell.
William Jacobson was no exception. Jacobson, a law professor at Cornell, shared with us his tale of how he started a legal and political blog called, Legal Insurrection.
His story started with a political argument he was having with a friend, that led the friend telling him he should write a blog. "What's a blog?" Jacobson asked his friend. Today, his blog has about 30,000 visits a day… LOL to that rags to riches story.
Jacobson brought in some baby pictures of his blog, pictures that resemble mine and my classmates blog today. We all recognized Google's Blogger template he was using, although thankfully those templates have now been updated (so hopefully our's look a little cooler). But it was amusing and inspiring to know that he started in the same place as we are.
In my opinion, the best advice Jacobson told us was how to connect with other blogs and bloggers. Whether that means sending your own writing to other similar blogs who might appreciate extra content (always put a link back to your blog at the end), or linking to other blogs in your pieces - and hoping that they too will link back to you. In both instances, you are being exposed to a new readership, and the other blog is also being exposed to a new readership, we call this a win-win scenario!
Jacobson also touched on how he keeps his blog updated, even though blogging isn't his primary job. Updating posts on a blog almost every hour is vital, otherwise readers won't keep coming back to check for new content. Legal Insurrection has a staff of 12 contributors, and Jacobson admits to never meeting any of them in person. They are all paid contributors; their paycheck depends on their role.
Legal Insurrection's viewership will depend on events occurring in society. Jacobson said their true climb to fame happened during the George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin case. Because of Legal Insurrection's in depth description of legal elements, and investigations on statements made by main stream media- the blog was trusted and visited by readers often.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Indy's New Paywalls: Cooler than the NYT's
I've grown up in a generation who expects the internet to be free. And- not saying I do or condone those who do- there are ways to get content that is suppose to be paid for, for free. Therefore, if you put my generation in front of a paywall, we will be able to get around, under or over it without spending a dime (sorry NYT).
I think some independent media sources are on to this. As a media platform that is expected to be on the cutting edge of technology and internet dissemination, these sanctions are used to thinking a step ahead.
Instead of having a paywall for content, some have created a paywall for special benefits. Democracy Now! has a special they call "Dinner & Show with Amy Goodman" in which an avid fan can pay (a hefty price) for dinner with Amy Goodman, along with the chance to watch a live broadcast and get a tour of the studio.
The online magazine, Slate, has also added a similar service. They call it Slate Plus, and for monthly or yearly subscription ($50 a year, $5 a month- not bad at all!) readers will have access to writers and special events that non-paying readers do not have access to.
I think this is an awesome idea. I would definitely consider paying for an experience to help support my favorite media source. It is like paying extra for backstage passes. Time will tell, but I think it's a very viable idea and a great way to solidify a fan base.
I think some independent media sources are on to this. As a media platform that is expected to be on the cutting edge of technology and internet dissemination, these sanctions are used to thinking a step ahead.
Instead of having a paywall for content, some have created a paywall for special benefits. Democracy Now! has a special they call "Dinner & Show with Amy Goodman" in which an avid fan can pay (a hefty price) for dinner with Amy Goodman, along with the chance to watch a live broadcast and get a tour of the studio.
The online magazine, Slate, has also added a similar service. They call it Slate Plus, and for monthly or yearly subscription ($50 a year, $5 a month- not bad at all!) readers will have access to writers and special events that non-paying readers do not have access to.
I think this is an awesome idea. I would definitely consider paying for an experience to help support my favorite media source. It is like paying extra for backstage passes. Time will tell, but I think it's a very viable idea and a great way to solidify a fan base.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Indy Media Madness
March Madness, the NCAA tournament is in full stride. I'm not a huge fan of watching basketball, but I will spend sometime enjoying the game this month because of March Madness. It is my first year making a bracket, and the added element of guessing which team will win has definitely made things more exciting. It's just the beginning but I must say I'm not doing too bad!!
As I was creating the tournament bracket, I began to think of a structure within independent media that is very similar… This might seem like a stretch but bare with me:
Both the March Madness tournament and an independent media outlet have a goal that is to be reached. In the NCAA tourney, its the W on the final game. In the media outlet, it's a completed story with all the facts, sources and narrative coming together to report an issue or event.
Then comes the bracket or the teams competing for that final spot. Without the aspect of competition, the bracket within independent media is like crowd sourcing for a story.
Crowdsourcing is not only one one of the unique aspects that sets independent media apart from mainstream media, but it's also one of the most important features to keep independent media alive. Independent media platforms are more small scale and typically don't have the connections that corporate media platforms have. So, it must reach out to it's readers for either information, or for someone to attend an event that the main editorial board can't attend. This connection is not only outreach for places that the indy media can't attend, but it also forms a bond between the platform and it's readers. They feel more attached because they can be part of the product.
So the bracket is like the readers, sending in either facts, sources, tips, critiques, etc…. to the writers of the story which then can create a final product (which if the story is a great piece than in the indy world it is just as great as a victory in a championship game).
An example of an independent victory was when two bloggers posted evidence that "60 Minutes" used forged documents when reporting on President Bush's Air National Guard service. One of the bloggers said his secret was "open-source intelligence gathering… We've got a huge pool of highly motivated people who go out there and use the tools to find stuff."
*Blogger's edit:
After further conversation with Professor Cohen about liking independent media crowd sourcing to March Madness, he brought up another similar element:
I think an even simpler March Madness comparison is that in the old days, people just watched the games. But now, in the Internet era, people feel they participate by making brackets, debating, competing with each other about the winners.
Professor Cohen, brings up a good point. Not only are we watching the games or consuming media, we are participating, sharing, and in a way- competing (race to get the story first).
As I was creating the tournament bracket, I began to think of a structure within independent media that is very similar… This might seem like a stretch but bare with me:
Both the March Madness tournament and an independent media outlet have a goal that is to be reached. In the NCAA tourney, its the W on the final game. In the media outlet, it's a completed story with all the facts, sources and narrative coming together to report an issue or event.
Then comes the bracket or the teams competing for that final spot. Without the aspect of competition, the bracket within independent media is like crowd sourcing for a story.
Crowdsourcing is not only one one of the unique aspects that sets independent media apart from mainstream media, but it's also one of the most important features to keep independent media alive. Independent media platforms are more small scale and typically don't have the connections that corporate media platforms have. So, it must reach out to it's readers for either information, or for someone to attend an event that the main editorial board can't attend. This connection is not only outreach for places that the indy media can't attend, but it also forms a bond between the platform and it's readers. They feel more attached because they can be part of the product.
So the bracket is like the readers, sending in either facts, sources, tips, critiques, etc…. to the writers of the story which then can create a final product (which if the story is a great piece than in the indy world it is just as great as a victory in a championship game).
An example of an independent victory was when two bloggers posted evidence that "60 Minutes" used forged documents when reporting on President Bush's Air National Guard service. One of the bloggers said his secret was "open-source intelligence gathering… We've got a huge pool of highly motivated people who go out there and use the tools to find stuff."
*Blogger's edit:
After further conversation with Professor Cohen about liking independent media crowd sourcing to March Madness, he brought up another similar element:
I think an even simpler March Madness comparison is that in the old days, people just watched the games. But now, in the Internet era, people feel they participate by making brackets, debating, competing with each other about the winners.
Professor Cohen, brings up a good point. Not only are we watching the games or consuming media, we are participating, sharing, and in a way- competing (race to get the story first).
Thursday, March 20, 2014
C.R.E.A.M., the anthem of Indy Journalists
C.R.E.A.M or Cash Rules Everything Around Me, formally known as an anthem of the hip hop artists- the Wu-Tang Clan- can now also represent independent media creators' struggle to produce in-depth investigations while remaining uncontrolled by corporate media.
Ever since I told my parents (both of whom work in the medical field) I wanted to become a journalist, they have stressed to me the competitiveness of the market.
"It's going to take a lot of work and a lot of luck to have a job in the field in which you can make a comfortable lifestyle!" My dad says to me constantly.
With the pressure from my parents, and the presence of corporate media everywhere I looked I use to think that options for my future were slim. And never did I consider that perhaps blogging could be a viable choice for an aspiring journalist…
Don't get me wrong, I use a lot of independent media blogs to get my news. But I always assumed that the lifestyle was not a primary source of revenue. As a consumer of news and an avid internet user, I expect to get information for free! So if I'm receiving information for free, where would the revenue for these bloggers come from?
Of course there's advertising. But beyond that- there is something much more special.
Fans.
Independent media sites, bloggers, freelance writers, investigative journalists have all discovered that if they produce factual, just, and influential writing about topics that their readers or fans are passionate about- then their readers will want to support them to do more of it.
For example, Shane Bauer, a journalist who was imprisoned in Iran for 26 months is now using a platform called Beacon to raise funds for his investigation of the American prison system. Bauer is known not only for his imprisonment but also for his writing, and therefore could gain a lot more attention if pairing with a corporate media platform. However, he in confident in his readership that he can do the project independently with a little help with funding.
Because of Bauer and other indy news sites- I'm more confident about the C.R.E.A.M. lifestyle of the investigative reporter. Perhaps paying for content is in fact something of the past- but supporting the content you want created- seems to be indy media's cash money.
Ever since I told my parents (both of whom work in the medical field) I wanted to become a journalist, they have stressed to me the competitiveness of the market.
"It's going to take a lot of work and a lot of luck to have a job in the field in which you can make a comfortable lifestyle!" My dad says to me constantly.
With the pressure from my parents, and the presence of corporate media everywhere I looked I use to think that options for my future were slim. And never did I consider that perhaps blogging could be a viable choice for an aspiring journalist…
Don't get me wrong, I use a lot of independent media blogs to get my news. But I always assumed that the lifestyle was not a primary source of revenue. As a consumer of news and an avid internet user, I expect to get information for free! So if I'm receiving information for free, where would the revenue for these bloggers come from?
Of course there's advertising. But beyond that- there is something much more special.
Fans.
Independent media sites, bloggers, freelance writers, investigative journalists have all discovered that if they produce factual, just, and influential writing about topics that their readers or fans are passionate about- then their readers will want to support them to do more of it.
For example, Shane Bauer, a journalist who was imprisoned in Iran for 26 months is now using a platform called Beacon to raise funds for his investigation of the American prison system. Bauer is known not only for his imprisonment but also for his writing, and therefore could gain a lot more attention if pairing with a corporate media platform. However, he in confident in his readership that he can do the project independently with a little help with funding.
Because of Bauer and other indy news sites- I'm more confident about the C.R.E.A.M. lifestyle of the investigative reporter. Perhaps paying for content is in fact something of the past- but supporting the content you want created- seems to be indy media's cash money.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Whistleblowers: The sound-makers in a time of silence
Both the names Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning), are enough to spark up a controversial conversation about what qualifies as free speech. Responsible for exposing some of the most top secret injustices of governments and wars, some thought Assange and Manning actions were evil, not noble.
However, no matter what people think about these two whistleblowers, the truth is the knowledge they uncovered was shocking. In an article from Truth Dig titled: Top 10 Ways Bradley Cooper Changed the World is a list of secrets Manning exposed, and in turn provided the appropriate spotlight to generate change. The most well-known example is the Collateral Murder video where a helicopter opened fire on unarmed non-combatants in Iraq, two Reuter journalists, and children. This video really gave a visual, and undeniable truth of what was going on when US troops were stationed in Iraq.
The Collateral Murder video was released on Wikileaks, along with with the U.S.'s relationship with Yemen's dictatorship to hide our bombing strikes there, and the Obama's administration's pressure on nations not to bring to court Bush officials for torture.
Like other independent media creators, Assange and Manning believe in shedding light on topics that mainstream media either won't cover, or doesn't have the capabilities to cover.
However, no matter what people think about these two whistleblowers, the truth is the knowledge they uncovered was shocking. In an article from Truth Dig titled: Top 10 Ways Bradley Cooper Changed the World is a list of secrets Manning exposed, and in turn provided the appropriate spotlight to generate change. The most well-known example is the Collateral Murder video where a helicopter opened fire on unarmed non-combatants in Iraq, two Reuter journalists, and children. This video really gave a visual, and undeniable truth of what was going on when US troops were stationed in Iraq.
The Collateral Murder video was released on Wikileaks, along with with the U.S.'s relationship with Yemen's dictatorship to hide our bombing strikes there, and the Obama's administration's pressure on nations not to bring to court Bush officials for torture.
Like other independent media creators, Assange and Manning believe in shedding light on topics that mainstream media either won't cover, or doesn't have the capabilities to cover.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
My "Aha!" Moment with Independent Media
Prior to sitting through an Independent Media class, I thought I had a pretty good idea what independent media was. I knew independent media sources were separate of big media corporations, but as a mostly mainstream news consumer I wasn't fully aware of the importance behind the independent media's missions.
Mainstream media corporations have an economic attachment and loyalty to their advertisers that can completely dictate which stories are reported to the public and which stories are hidden from the public. The stories also will come with an underlying narrative that remains true to the partisan of the owners/ advertisers of the corp. Although it is known and accepted by the public that mainstream media contains biases- Fox News being the extreme conservative source and MSNBC being the extreme liberal source on the spectrum- I have never truly taken the time to realize what this means for journalism and those who use journalism to remain in power.
As the course continued on, I began to meet journalists and bloggers who defined the type of journalist I wanted to be. Someone who had concrete ethics, a never-ending attempt to be bipartisan when reporting the facts, and a constant drive to make the world a better place by giving voice to those whose cries for help can't be heard. Also, I never forget journalism's purpose as the fourth estate- providing a critical eye on the government we elected to run our nation. If the media that promises to provide this critical lens, secretly reports only stories that they are paid to report, the fourth estate is completely powerless.
During another class, Hip Hop Cultures, I stumbled across a passage in the book, "Hip Hop Wars," by Tricia Rose. The passage was written by scholar Ben Bagdikian:
Media consolidation (source from 2012 but has edits) is one of the major issues with mainstream media corporations. Not only do those previously mentioned loyalties become more and more powerful, but also other issues such as net neutrality are brought to the battlefronts.
Although this blog is required for my Independent Media course, it also is a record of my journey with independent media.
-Bethany
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