Brief Thoughts on Additional Readings

While written at such different times in American and media history, both de Tocqueville and Giussani's articles point out how specific forms of media, newspaper and the internet respectively, are necessary to a free and just society. They act as checks on government and the people they represent. 

While newspapers represented freedom for so long, the creation of "Internet 2.0" meaning the communicative interaction we now see online with millions of bloggers, social networkers, and the browsers of these sites. What would have been much to de Tocqueville's dismay, newspapers were gathered into large entities when William Randolph Hurst began his quest of owning them all and newspapers ceased to be as free as de Tocqueville envisioned. Hurst was even able to start a war (Spanish-American) simply by drumming up support of the sinking of the Maine in his newspapers. 

Giussani points out the new revolution that has freed up from what Hurst among others did to so many forms of mass media. The internet has allowed for us to participate in this blog, freely able to express our opinion on any given issue. Blogs across the web focus on so many issues, an unimaginable amount, and each author has no limit to the blogs they can publish. No contract to write for one specific company, with deadlines, specific topics they are required to cover. Free. It's pure Democracy. So pure, it can be filled with lies, deceit, and garbage. Censoring is not required, nor is having your facts straight. So while the internet has led to a communications revolution and allowed all of us to become journalists, do we hold up a true journalistic code of honor? Do we factually report the news as we see it or do we intentionally slant it to meet whatever our personal goals may be? 

This upcoming election is the first in which internet 2.0 is being fully utilized. Senator Barack Obama even has a social networking tool known as MyBarackObama in which you can "friend" other supporters, join groups, create events, and yes, even blog. Unfortunately while this tool is used for good, others have used it to spread rumors about almost all of the candidates this season. They don't write for the Associated Press or the New York Times or even the KSU Sentinel. No worries about being fired or sued for your opinion on a blog. In most cases, you're not even being paid for creating the lies! 

So as Americans, lovers of freedom, and fellow bloggers, we have to prevent Giussani's dream go the way of de Tocqueville's and let corruption, lies, and deceit ruin this new device that will hopefully all democracy to flourish for centuries to come. 

**BREAKING NEWS**

CNN read my post and responded and admitted fully they were the ones that screwed Obama's VP announcement plans. Hmm, after one post the media is on me. 

Stay tuned folks. My next post: Mass Media & the Disney World like atmosphere surrounding the conventions. 

The News vs. Us: How do they win?

Ahoy folks. 

This here blog will focus on the news, mass media, and its effect on the world around us. First thing's first, there is news abound. 

Recently the Barack Obama campaign did something interested, new, fascinating, incredible, unheard of!.... If you submitted your cell phone number or email address the Obama campaign would text or email you Senator Obama's running mate BEFORE the news announced it! 

*GASP*

Upon hearing this Wolf Blitzer promptly turned into the Hulk and destroyed half of the Situation Room set.*

"How can they do this!?" Blitzer screamed as he tore down the desk in front of him.

John King using his fancy touch screen TV gave Blitzer a seemingly intelligent answer. "We can beat them," King promised. 

The Hulk calmed down. 

In all seriousness folks, the Obama campaign wanted to transcend that need for the mass media to report information. With much of Obama's organization started using the internet, this seemed a no brainer. How could we be so naive? To think the news would not get a hold of the information before the general public did was ridiculous, but many of us bought into it anyway. 

Friday August 22nd seemed to drone on, especially for those on television hoping Blitzer wouldn't explode with rage. Obama had made his decision, that much was clear, but no one knew when the text/email would go out or who exactly the choice was. All indications pointed to Governor Tim Kaine of Virigina, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Senator Joe Biden of Delaware being the final three in this race. Day turned into night, information started coming in. 

The news networks were getting confirmation from Democratic Party sources that Governor Kaine and Senator Bayh were out of the mix. The rumors about Biden increased. The media was staked outside of Biden's home like it was the Britney Spears scandal. All I could think of was where in the hell my text message was? Obama is something new, refreshing, he'll get the information to loyal supporters before the media gets a hold...right.

CNN began getting unofficial reports that it was in fact Joe Biden. Again, no email, no text message, nothing. CNN reported that Biden had gathered with his family. No message. ABC confirms that the Secret Service had been dispatched to the Biden residence. Still...no message. CNN now confirms that Barack Obama has chosen Joe Biden as his running mate.

Dear Senator Obama,

Where the hell was my text message? 

Love,

Joel

In all seriousness, the mass media couldn't lose. They had to report information first. The Obama campaign tried to prove that we didn't need mass media to provide the American people with crucial information. They were wrong. We were wrong. I believed in the campaign's promise. I received my confirmation from the Obama campaign.... at 4:48AM Saturday. Nearly five hours after CNN reported that Joe Biden was in fact Obama's running mate. 

This event proves one thing. While we might not NEED mass media to provide us information, they are too entrenched in our political system to allow us direct access to information from campaigns and government. It was the ultimate goal for the mass media to prove they still had the leg up on us and they did. Maybe this won't be the case in the future, but for now we'll be stuck with them, up to and including Wolf Blitzer's beard. 

Hope everyone enjoys the insanity that will undoubtedly occur throughout these posts, especially with the election on our doorstep....I would keep posting but Barack Obama is on TV getting ready to introduce Joe Biden as his running mate....this might be important.

*There is no evidence that Wolf Blitzer turned into the Hulk. This was a story floating around the offices of Fox News. Upon hearing this, Chris Wallace laughed so hard he choked on a pretzel and Bill O'Reilly blamed Blitzer's transformation on liberals loving science.