The trouble with mass media

Question 1 – In Yochai Benkler’s Wealth of Networks, we read the following statement in chapter 6:

The core role of the political public sphere is to provide a platform for converting privately developed observations, intuitions, and opinions into public opinions that can be brought to bear in the political system toward determining collective action.

The Internet is increasingly becoming that sphere’s platform. However, policymakers have tended to enact legislation which seeks to repress activity that great numbers of people within this sphere otherwise view as legitimate. This is generally perceived as reactive to these activities’ tendencies – they violate previous policy effected for traditional media. In a recent article published in the Times of London regarding online film piracy (piracy being one such example of a violating activity), Becky Hogge with the Open Rights Group observed:

When you have six million people breaking the law, it’s the law that needs changing, not the people.

How do we change policy to better support new public opinion while still protecting the privileges of those whose past rights are becoming violated, essentially, by new public opinion?

Question 2 – It’s widely held that President Barack Obama has promised a new era of transparency in American government. How can this transparency be established and maintained in this new media age? Alexander Mooney at CNN, reporting from a 31 January 2009 event with President Obama:

…Obama joked about the ultra-limited access to [the] president’s inbox. “It’s a very exclusive list. How exclusive? Everyone look at the person sitting on your left. Now look at the person sitting on your right. None of you have my e-mail address.”

In what new ways will public opinion be communicated to those who preside over the public in the social media age?

Question 3 – Benkler observes that mass media does not often lend itself well to in-depth political discussion and dialog. Regarding one such example, talk radio, he mentions the following (again in chapter 6 of Wealth of Networks):

The phenomenon of talk radio and call-in shows represents … the pornography and violence of political discourse – a combination of exhibitionism and voyeurism intended to entertain us with opportunities to act out suppressed desires and to glimpse what we might be like if we allowed ourselves more leeway from what it means to be a well-socialized adult.

As most communications and media outlets (for example the New York Times or NPR or Comcast) move to adopt social media practices, in what ways does this ‘pornographic’ dialog emerge in spaces that one might not have traditionally expected to see it, and how does that impact the formation of public opinion? Also, considering cases of alleged libel, slander, or defamation, as published to forums and messageboards by some users of social media within these new spaces, can such potentially illegal behavior be effectively policed? (see 7 Feb 2009 article in Dallas Morning News regarding one such recent case)

References

Chapter 6. political freedom part 1: The trouble with mass media. the wealth of networks, by yochai benkler. Retrieved 2/9/2009, 2009, from http://www.congo-education.net/wealth-of-networks/ch-06.htm

CNN political ticker: All politics, all the time blog archive – who has Obama’s e-mail address? « – blogs from CNN.com. Retrieved 2/9/2009, 2009, from http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/02/who-has-obamas-e-mail-address/

Hundreds who posted views on sex assault trial targeted in tarrant suit | news for dallas, texas | dallas morning news | breaking news for dallas-fort worth | dallas morning news. Retrieved 2/9/2009, 2009, from http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/020809dnmetlawsuit.2bd48105.html

The open rights group. Retrieved 2/9/2009, 2009, from http://www.openrightsgroup.org/

Scene stealer: The aXXo files – features, films – the independent. Retrieved 2/9/2009, 2009, from http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/scene-stealer-the-axxo-files-1214699.html