This essay will be exploring the extent at which audiences are empowered by the developments of new and digital media. Within the past 20 years the internet has become a more prominent player within the news industry.According to Briggs and Burke the internet is the most important medium in any and every aspect of the century. However its influence on news is the most controversial of all developments. The lack of censorship is probably on of the most controversial aspects. On one hand the lack of censorship allows for a greater deal of freedom of speech which results in the audience having a larger variety of views and values. Snowdon, one of the main figures who leaked information onto the website wiki-leaks, gave the public access to information based on scandals, failings e.t.c of powerful figures. Had this information been found by a journalist working for a newspaper, we may still not know about certain things as larger organisations and bodies control what is being said. Paradoxically this causes an increase of misinformation and a rise in conspiracy theories. Even though people are exposed to more views and values, the lack of reliability can harm people and cause moral panics. In most cases, predominantly on twitter hoaxes are harmless and usually concern the fake death of a celebrity figure. However recently there was a trend on twitter using the hashtag #SaveMarinaJoyce, where theories of kidnapping and control from either a boyfriend or even ISIS were created. The automatic assumption of ISIS is becoming a regular occurrence on social media and raises the question as too whether social media is responsible for the rise of terrorist organisations.
34/48 - B
WWW: Clear, engaging answer; developing critical autonomy.
EBI: A better introduction; a conclusion; more on the institutional side of things- Pareto's law e.t.c.
This essay will be discussing the extent to which audiences are empowered by their consumption of new/digital media.
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