Suit? What Suit? I Rock My Pajamas
When I Report
New and alternative media…hmm I should know what this is now, after all I have been taking a class all this semester on the subject and I have been blogging more consistently than ever before.
Blogging is a form of citizen journalism, a person who may not be accredited as a journalist, but finds it in their civic duty to report the happenings of the world in a different perspective than mainstream media portrays them.
Thomas Jefferson was the one who said, “I would rather have a free press and no government, than a government and no free press.” In the U.S. today anyone can exercise this freedom by blogging.
The word publishing is broader than it used to be. What do you understand when you hear “to publish”? Not until this year did I discover this word is one of the most complex P words ever invented. You know that publishing is not necessarily written and read by a mass audience? It means anything written or said and read or heard by a third party is considered to be published. I have published nine pieces of information and thoughts thus far. You, the one reading, have been my audience and reader throughout the semester.
In the article we had to read for this particular blog, about blogging and the incorrect regards made on a blog about the governor of South Carolina are comical. Anyone can really go on the Internet and post anything about anyone. The particular article talked about the immediate reaction by mainstream media by a tweet posted alleging the governor was going to be indicted. The time it took for that to spread and for news outlets to verify if that was true, was faster than the selling of Justin Bieber concert tickets. The allegations were NOT true as the governor easily proved.
Twitter has become a micro form of blogging. The immediate thoughts, feelings and knowledge a person might have are published within the boundaries of 140 characters. Then you may look at a blog like mine and it elaborates more on the content and gives more information. Being true or not true what I say, I still have the freedom to post it.
A concern among classmates, as I have discovered throughout the term, has been that many of these students are concerned with the legitimacy of the traditional news sources, because they consider them to be too biased. But then, when you ask if they trust the blogging world or other alternative forms of media they are skeptical to go forth and trust them.
I kept hearing over and over this year the example of FOX News, and how conservative they are and how they only report on those principles. While that’s true, there are narrow minded people who get their information from that broadcasting station, just like those who only watch MSNBC.
Bloggers are usually biased too whenever they report. Therefore, do not always believe everything we post or say, check it twice before making an erroneous claim. While I have injected my opinion throughout the semester, I have left room for you to comment and let me know what you think and other facts I might have omitted. I am not narrow minded and I like to see an argument from all sides, even if I don’t agree in the end.
On the issue that we are “too free” as to what we are able to say in the world of the Internet, I will not blame the writer, or publisher of a work, because every single individual is responsible for their actions. If an insane person reads something or views something, it's all on them how they interpret things said or written.
Now, that being said, as an educated citizen show some intelligence when posting blogs, comments or tweets. Offending another religion or the lack of is never okay, critique it eloquently, but do not be disgusting in how you treat others. Another important point rises up, bullying in person, or more cowardly, through the web, is never ever alright.
Things to take away from blogging are to not so naively believe everything posted is the sacred truth, and to check it before you fake it, and spread the lies or hatred even further.
Take a look at this State Farm commercial. I think it’s funny and relevant, not everything on the Internet is true!
If you want to be more than an opinion piece on the blogging world I recommend looking up the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Click on the link below!
As always, thank you for reading! One more to go.
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