Clay Shirky

Clay Shirky: End of audience blog tasks

Media Magazine reading

Media Magazine 55 has an overview of technology journalist Bill Thompson’s conference presentation on ‘What has the internet ever done for me?’ It’s an excellent summary of the internet’s brief history and its impact on society. Go to our Media Magazine arc

hive, click on MM55 and scroll to page 13 to read the article ‘What has the internet ever done for me?’ Answer the following questions:

1) Looking over the article as a whole, what are some of the positive developments due to the internet highlighted by Bill Thompson?

• increased access to information
• Global connectivity 
• Support of innovation
• Empowerment of individuals

2) What are the negatives or dangers linked to the development of the internet?

• privacy concerns
• misinformation 
• division
• cybersecurity threats

3) What does ‘open technology’ refer to? Do you agree with the idea of ‘open technology’?

A policy that allows users to access platforms with few restrictions, making me believe that depending on the website, there should be more/less restrictions.

4) Bill Thompson outlines some of the challenges and questions for the future of the internet. What are they?

• maintaining open/free access
• protecting privacy 
• misinformation
• managing AI
• cyber security threats

5) Where do you stand on the use and regulation of the internet? Should there be more control or more openness? Why?

There should be more regulation on the internet as for most apps you have to sign up using your personal information like DOB and your full name, allowing people to see practically everything about you.

Clay Shirky: Here Comes Everybody

Clay Shirky’s book Here Comes Everybody charts the way social media and connectivity is changing the world. Read Chapter 3 of his book, ‘Everyone is a media outlet’, and answer the following questions:

1) How does Shirky define a ‘profession’ and why does it apply to the traditional newspaper industry?
 

Clay Shirky defines a profession as a group with special knowledge that controls access to the internet. He argues the internet is reducing this control, allowing more people to do whatever they want. 

2) What is the question facing the newspaper industry now the internet has created a “new ecosystem”?

The newspaper industry now faces the challenge of a "new ecosystem" created by the internet, which has disrupted and reshaped how news is consumed and distributed.

3) Why did Trent Lott’s speech in 2002 become news?

Trent Lott's 2002 speech became news because he praised Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign, sparking controversy and accusations of allowing racist policies.

4) What is ‘mass amateurisation’?

'Mass amateurisation' refers to the internet and how it allows large numbers of non-professionals to create and distribute content, like content creators.

5) Shirky suggests that: “The same idea, published in dozens or hundreds of places, can have an amplifying effect that outweighs the verdict from the smaller number of professional outlets.” How can this be linked to the current media landscape and particularly ‘fake news’?

Shirky's idea shows how the widespread the same content can be presented across numerous non-professional platforms and can present misinformation, contributing to the spread of 'fake news'.

6) What does Shirky suggest about the social effects of technological change? Does this mean we are currently in the midst of the internet “revolution” or “chaos” Shirky mentions?

Shirky suggests that technological change leads to significant change in old systems that are disrupted, indicating that we are currently in the middle of the internet "revolution" or "chaos".

7) Shirky says that “anyone can be a publisher… [and] anyone can be a journalist”. What does this mean and why is it important?

Shirky's statement presents why content creation is so important, where digital platforms allow anyone to share news and information, which is important because it challenges traditional roles.

8) What does Shirky suggest regarding the hundred years following the printing press revolution? Is there any evidence of this “intellectual and political chaos” in recent global events following the internet revolution?

Shirky suggests that the following of the printing press was shown by political chaos as people adjusted to the new technology, and recent global events like the rise of misinformation.

9) Why is photography a good example of ‘mass amateurisation’?

Photography is a good example of 'mass amateurisation' because digital cameras have allowed people to capture, edit, and share high-quality images easily.

10) What do you think of Shirky’s ideas on the ‘End of audience’? Is this era of ‘mass amateurisation’ a positive thing? Or are we in a period of “intellectual and political chaos” where things are more broken than fixed? 

Shirky's ideas on the 'End of Audience' present a shift towards participation in content creation, which can be seen as both a positive and negative. It allows creativity and diversity, however allows misinformation to be spread as well.