We Media

"In what ways do you think some of these examples of the use of We Media are democratic?"
Nowadays the internet provides many paths and journeys for the development of progressive citizenship journalism worldwide. The theory by John Hartley justifies how media consumers need specific features in order to transform the journalism theory. Hartley suggests that consumers need to avoid the idea that the audience is strictly a passive consumer of media products in order for the audiences to produce their own media products. Hartley also states that every single person has a right to be involved in getting information and ideas across the wider world, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The theorist Stuart Allan supports the idea of blogging by audiences as he believes that they contribute with their primary resources, first hand digital photographs and other forms of recordings. However, this challenges professional journalists as it disrupts the traditional routines that are undergone. The internet and blogosphere challenge the mainstream media in democratic movements.

Overall, these examples of We Media are seen as democratic as they depict the different ways of getting ones views and opinions across through different technological pathways such as Web 2.0. These pathways transform the consumers into the producers which enable them to having freedom of speech and more choice.

"How does We Media provide a valid alternative voice to ordinary citizens?"

We Media can be seen as a source for citizens to voice their opinions and rich data as it provides the non mainstream journalists with an opportunity to speak out. George Orwell, known as the author of Animal Farm however he was also known for being a progressive journalist which of whom concentrated on journals such as the New Leader and Left Forum. He wrote his regular “As I Please” column, he developed a close relationship with his audiences. This was a very crucial relationship which added to the flowering of Orwell’s journalistic imagination. Suggesting that his rich imagination attracted many audiences which continued following his journals. He soon developed into becoming a mainstream journalist.