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Dan Gillmor on His Move to "Citizen Journalism"
tct25 writes "Tech journalist Dan Gillmor gives OhmyNews International his first interview since announcing that he will leave the San Jose Mercury News next month in order to start a citizen-journalism venture. Many insiders are scratching their heads. Why is the much respected tech writer leaving what he described as 'greatest gig in the world' for the perilous journey of developing an entrepreneurial idea in citizen-journalism? He spoke to OhmyNews at Harvard Law School in the middle of the final day of the College's Berkman Center-sponsored 2004 Internet and Society Conference last Saturday."
"Why is the much respected tech writer leaving what he described as 'greatest gig in the world' for the perilous journey of developing an entrepreneurial idea in citizen-journalism?"
I can think of two reasons...
1. almost all big media is corupt these days, and spin the news to their liking just for ratings with the readers, or to get money from the sponsors. Maybe he's just sick of it.
2. MONEY...he has a chance to "get rich quick" with his entrepreneurial venture. Why not take the risk? If he fails, he can always go back to something similar since he'll still has his good rep (unless he does something really terrible between now and then)
where conservatives can find refuge from the politically correct.
If by "politically correct" you mean "journalistic standards" (...such as they are...), I see your point
He's angry at the media for the way they handle news, but he has no idea really where he's going with this whole citizen journalism thing. Then ohmynews proceeds to preen itself for half a page. Afterwards, they talk about blogging, it's relationship to the mainstream media, and how that can influence citizen journalism. Dan Gillmore goes on the record as being skeptical of wikinews.
Read his stuff. They're not just "tech columns". They are often political writing well informed by a knowledge of technology. Dan is one of the best columnists around, "tech" or not. I'm sure whatever he does will be worth watching.
The liberal elites? I'm sorry buddy but the majority of elitist mentality is republican. Sure, there are your NRA card toting blue-collar farming types that support Dubya 100%, but they probably didn't receieve the best of education. From what I've experienced with republicans, you are either very stupid and support the party, or very intelligent and support the party due to financial gains (greed.) As for liberal, look up the definition. It simply means "thinking for yourself." The problem is that your "alternative outlets" have convinced you that all liberals are either anti-God, democratic, or homosexual. I'm sorry, but once again look up the definition of liberal. Not everyone fits the freaky picture of a liberal that has been taught to you by your radio mind programming.
Why is the much respected tech writer leaving what he described as 'greatest gig in the world' for the perilous journey of developing an entrepreneurial idea in citizen-journalism?
I have a different answer for everyone to chew on. Mr. Gilmor is great at what he does, as evidenced by his cherry position, his reputation and most importantly his work. Great people get bored. He has risen to what he sees as the pinnacle of his field and he is not satisfied. He wants more. He is willing to try something radically different for the challenge and the experience and the opportunity to perhaps revolutionize the field. He wants excitement.
Besides, if the idea does not work, do you really think he will not be able to get another job as a tech writer somewhere else? Sure, this venture might fail and he may have to go back to a similar job that pays less, but it is the risk that makes it interesting. He is living life, trying new things, actively seeking out innovation and not letting it come to him.
I applaud him for it.
The cancel button is your friend. Do not hesitate to use it.
This is done by using sensationalist news and showing the point of view that most people agree with. Which is why you see stories like "Sex Offenders in your neighborhood!" and "Puppies: Too Cute?"
I haven't watched the news in about a year because I just couldn't take it anymore. Turn on CNN or Fox or MSNBC any time of the day and you can run down a checklist:
( ) Story about sex
( ) Story about violence
( ) Story threatening your well-being
( ) Fluff story nobody could disagree with
You have two hands and one brain, so always code twice as much as you think!
In the last year, his column has become a bit more activist and strident. And it seems that he is likely unhappy talking about computers and the Net, when there are more mundane social affairs occurring with which he would rather be involved.
I also miss the days of cold and clinical reporting of facts in journalism. I hope that he can avoid the pitfalls of many alternative news outlets who bemoan unfairness in the media, either from the left or right. It is so common in the many conservative blogs, or at the liberal end of the spectrum at FAIR or Indymedia, to complain about the biased media when they perceive a lack or fairness to their own side of any given issue. And it is the almost universal remedy given by them to balance this perceived unfairness, not by giving both sides of a story, but by balancing the pool of thought by only promoting their side of an issue. So in reality they are not battling biased media but supporting it.
One quote I heard once (sorry if I get it wrong) is that impartiality in a journalist is not a character trait, but a professional skill. I like that idea. Of course newspeople have opinions like everyone else, but that should not be a factor when striving to create a quality product.
More power to him, if he can make this work.
There was a time, when Clinton was in office, that your statement would have been basically true; give or take a few issues.
However, with a Repulican as president, talk radio has become nothing more than a mouth piece for the white house, much in the same way the media was for Clinton when he was in office.
If you think they aren't politically correct, call in and voice your opposition to the war on terror, the war on drugs, the war on [insert your favorite war here].
In reality, they are about as politically correct as you can get, you just get a different politically correct viewpoint.
Usurper_ii
Ron Paul
I had an opportunity to interview Dan Gillmor this year on camera. He was genuinely concerned about where Outsourcing was headed, especially what happens to the US economy if all tech jobs migrate from the Valley to India. He placed the whole situation in a proper historical perspective, a comparison with NAFTA & how it was different this time around, a rundown of the actual numbers of people who were laid off, the impact on the valley, mountains of idle cash sitting on Sand Hill Road, and so much more...I came away with a feeling I had spoken to someone who felt quite strongly about where this country was headed, not your average journo who cooks up a spin so he can pay his bills. Here's his picture he's 5th from the bottom.
The fact of the matter is, sure, he was a respected tech writer and working for one of the best papers in the country, but there's a huge field growing out there, and I think journalism needs a slight kick in the head to a degree.
Don't get me wrong. I think we put together a great product day in and day out. However, we're bound by the same rigid corporate standards that other large entities are held to.
That's the thing that's so exciting about citizen journalism. You're not worried about a single use of the F-word, or if you forgot to lay out Dilbert on the page (yes, Virginia, people do call about that) -- you're taking it down to the basic elements, what journalism is all about. You don't have to dumb it down. Wonkette is an exciting blog because of its gossipy nature, and the fact that it doesn't give a crap about offending anyone.
Even though, I still think newspapers are an essential resource, but I think blogs and citizen journalism need breathing room, too.
ShortFormBlog: Writing a little. Saying a lot.
...liberal mainstream media...
If we had one of those, the President would have been impeached and exiled to Siberia long ago.
Funny, but false.
I consider myself a liberal, but this is nonsense. The root word of liberal is "liberty" or "freedom" - it has nothing to do with "thinking for oneself".
I wish moderators would stop equating "I agree with this" with "Informative", because this clearly isn't.
However, with a Repulican as president, talk radio has become nothing more than a mouth piece for the white house, much in the same way the media was for Clinton when he was in office.
Uhm, were you awake during the Clinton years? The news did a lot of blasting Clinton, from Whitewater to that stained dress girl. Name one incident on which Bush has been taken to task, from leading our country to war on a country that was no threat to the US whatsoever, based on forged documents; to barely funding the 9/11 investigation (the shuttle accident was funded by an order of magnitude more); to the retconning of the reason we went to war in Iraq in the first place (I heard him say that terrorists brought the war to Iraq, which is true only if Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, and Wolfowitz are terrorists).
The current crop of news softballs the whole Bush presidency, unlike the way they handled Clinton.
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
Sure, there are your NRA card toting blue-collar farming types that support Dubya 100%, but they probably didn't receieve the best of education.
This is what passes for Informative around here? receieve? With the standard that low, let's see how I can do.
To recap, the standard to be a republican:
Brilliant. So, that would make the liberal standard, what?
Not everyone fits your neat packaging of a republican, either. Look that up and you'll find the broader definition: an advocate of a republic (usually in opposition to a monarchy). Or, in my case, opposition to a nanny state.