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National Computer Association |
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Date: Friday, December 24, 2010 Subject: Empower XIX - WatchDog I believe that many people accept the idea that our present recession has been caused by the selfish interests that have usurped the power of the people to control the operation of the country -- we have gone from a country "of the people, by the people and for the people" to a country "for the powerful selfish interests." As an engineer turned programmer, I watched Microsoft, under Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer turn from serving the people to serving those selfish interests, resulting in the Netscape Anti-Trust matter. I got interested in the matter during the trial before Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson. Involved or not, I accept my share of responsibility for the technical contribution to the recession even though my involvement may not have made any difference. But technology didn't cause the problem all by itself -- where were the watchdogs -- why did they allow this to happen?? Well, while some were speaking (writing) out, some were aiding and abetting -- in short, the media was complicit -- just like technology. Doc Searls, in his December 14, 2010 post entitled, "Jay Rosen and the Watchdog Web" wrote: I have to say what nearly fifty thousand Twitter followers already know: nobody does a better job of following and writing about what's going on in journalism than Jay Rosen. The dude just nails it, over and over and over again. It is nice that the Wikileaks matter caught Mr Rosen's attention; however, I think that the watchdog press died long before 2001 -- after all, the Microsoft fiasco took place in the mid '90s. But, there are a couple of other factors that Searls and Rosen are missing -- when did the warchdog press die and what does warchdog mean?? Doc wrote a paragraph back in '08 that he has quoted a couple of times: The basic job of newspaper reporters is to write stories. In simplest terms, stories are interesting arrangements of facts. What makes stories interesting are: 1) protagonists (persons, groups, teams, "issues" or causes); 2) a struggle, problem or conflict of some sort; and 3) movement forward (hopefully, by not necessarily, toward a conclusion). Whether or not you agree with that formulation, what cannot be denied is the imperative. Stories are made to be interesting. It is not just coincidental that this is a purpose they share with advertising. Note that last sentence -- Doc also wrote: Second, we need to recognize that journalism of the traditional sort has limiting imperatives. These are not just measurable in acres of print real estate, or in stretches of broadcast time; but in purpose. And here I think we need to visit the uncomfortable fact that, "Chinese wall" withstanding, journalism supported by advertising has a commercial purpose, and that this purpose cannot help but inform the writing of stories. Purpose, journalism is supposed to be serving "the people" and Doc himself points out that journalism is serving those selfish interests. So, what is the missing link?? It's that "stories" bit -- to be a watchdog you need to write "reports" -- see "Empower XX - Reports." -- stories deal with events -- reports deal with events and causes. Stories can be broadcast one to many, reports may need to be explained requiring one to one cooperation -- something the Web can provide, Providing the journalist is willing to get involved with the reader. Obviously, I have no way of knowing when -- maybe Rosen or Searls can establish a date. I do know this -- if we want a Watchdog Web, we need re-program that Web to cease usurping the power of those people. To be continued (I hope) BTW, in hopes of exciting some discussion I am
posting this page on the following web sites. Thanks for your time, Doug Skoglund - skoglund@pdmsb.com
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