12/14/10 Prof. Morrill POLY:300A A.

J Diaz Technology, Media and Politics Technology has and will always have a huge influence on the media and politics as a whole. This concept of media revolutionizing our world is a never-ending process that will continue to change how we see, think, hear, and watch the world. When Television first came about, it revolutionized how we as a people perceive the world around us including our political thoughts. The internet was the next sensation that revolutionized how nations received information. The internet also revolutionized how nations communicate, to themselves and other nations. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are all channels that most of the modern world is using to send messages to the rest of the world. These channels are becoming more and more popular by the day as big corporations are now using them as well. The internet is so powerful that even a single website, Wikileaks, can cause tremendous amounts of political damage and controversy throughout the world. Mayors, private investigators, journalists, and many other jobs are being revamped because of how technology is progressing. Technology is affecting everyone in the modern world and its going to continue to grow regardless of who it leaves behind. Before the 1940s and 1950s the media only consisted of radio and newspaper. People were used to a particular style of getting their news and information through these channels. When the television came out it completely changed how people received information since T.V. offered constant moving pictures of actual life. This

affected and influenced millions of American lives, as the museum of broadcast communications states: Televisions influence grew quickly by providing audiences with the chance to experience major political events live or with little delay. For instance, observers have long discussed the fact that television coverage of the famous 1954 McArthur day parade in Chicago communicated more excitement and a greater sense of immediacy to television viewers than to those participating in the live event (Lee). T.V. became a major role in American lives and in the political realm. People could now watch live events of politicians debating and speaking about issues. So long as there is a camera crew there to film the event it was on television. Today T.V. and the internet have become so important that we have 24 hour news coverage.This creates a demand for constant stories which creates more camera crews working 24 hours a day 7 days a week. News stations arent the only ones who can produce media in todays world. Thanks to the innovations of technology, anyone with a cell phone has a camera in which they can record and post onto the internet. This has affected and influenced many industries lives, but it has revolutionized the lives of politicians since where ever they go they are on the camera. Recently democratic nominee Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut made a false statement where he said he served in the Vietnam War when, in truth, he did not (Montopoli). This cost him the election and nearly his political career all because of someone filming him wherever he went. Politicians now have to watch what they say everywhere they go because if anyone catches them slip it will be on the news.

Like television, Social media is another revolutionary channel that the world is adapting to. The internet is one of the most accessed channels for media in the world and social media is how everyone not only views, but contributes to the world. The concept of everyone being a reporter for the world is shifting certain powers. Before social media and cell phones, people were solely bound to the news stations to broadcast the information they received.This gave news stations absolute control on what to air and what not to air. But thanks to social media people have another outlet that allows them to post their own material and view other normal peoples posts as well instead of news stations. In an article about social media and the current election, the Guardian reports: ...thousands of people, and especially first-time voters, were watching them on two screens: the TV screen and their mobile phone or computer, which they used to monitor and respond on Twitter and Facebook, giving instant reactions to the candidates' appearance, words and policies (Charles). Social media has given everyone access ability to post text, images, and video. This causes the power of what will be broadcasted to shift to the people from news stations. Social media also gives everyone a voice by allowing users to post what ever they wish onto the website. The Guardian also states: The Tweetminster account which describes itself as "a media utility that connects you to the politicians, commentators and news that shape UK politics" says that in the third debate there were 154,342 tweets relating to various terms around the leaders' debate, coming at 26.77 tweets a second, spread among 33,095 people(Charles). Tweeting and Facebook has revolutionized how people post their own opinions on media and the

politics. Technology also has speed up the time it takes for citizens to respond to candidates to the point of mere seconds. Social media has grabbed and pulled the attention of millions of Americans away from the T.V. news stations and onto the Internets social media. Social media has made it so that anyone who witnesses an important or even controversial event has the freedom to report it to the world. News stations will report on a story from a random source if the story is big enough. One of the outcomes to everyone being reporters is that there is a lot more media to watch. Usnews.com reports, Dan pfeiffer, the White House communications director, recently told the New Yorker magazine, with the internet, with YouTube, with TiVo, with cable TV, people are selective viewers now(Cary). People are able to pick and choose what news they want to view and news they do not want to view. This makes reporters stress over gaining the attention of viewers rather than being a journalist. Capitalism cripples the news media by making each different news station compete with one another rather than just report on the news. Technology, namely the internet, is also beginning to affect the media by raising debate over the first amendment, freedom of speech. Recently, a website called Wikileaks, got a hold of secret government documents in the United States and released the information to several major newspapers companies across the world. Wikileaks did not obtain the information illegally; however, the person who originally got the information did so illegally. Wikileaks has brought up an interesting dilemma, if someone passes on information that was illegally obtained, can you relay that message to the

world? Many argue both for and against it. On one hand, freedom of speech and press protects people, mostly journalists, from being indicted when they release information to the public. On the other hand, these are national secrets that could endanger our security so it should not be allowed. These are both valid points; however, if the United States were to ban an action like this from a civilian what would stop them from banning other journalists who try to report on the government? Freedom of the press is something that needs to apply to everyone or no one. In an article titled Dont charge Wikileaks, it explains: The government has no business indicting someone who is not a spy and who is not legally bound to keep its secrets. Doing so would criminalize the exchange of information and put at risk responsible media organizations that vet and verify material and take seriously the protection of sources and methods when lives or national security are endangered (The Washington Post). A natural right people should have is that we have a right to say, essentially, whatever we wish and to censor anything would mean that the government could censor anything. Technology is rapidly changing a lot of professions and two that I have noticed are politicians and private investigators. I met people in both professions that told me how their jobs have changed due to primarily, the internet. Pat McCory, the former mayor of Charlotte, spoke to our class about his profession and how it has changed over the course of 5 years. He said that one of the hardest adjustments that he had to make, and still does, is to keep a Facebook and twitter account. Mr. McCory states Oh sure I have it all Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, you name it. His tone of speech was not enthralled by these new channels of communications, but yet he still had to have them

because everyone it is what everyone is using. Another person came to our class who spoke about his profession as an investigative journalist. Stuart Watson, a professional investigative journalist, told our class that it is easier for him to gain information on particular cases through the internet, however he still has to go into the field to find where the truth lies. This brings me hope that not everything relies on the internet for answers, but that people still have to actually leave their office to find out information that is covered. Technology has changed a lot of lives in the past, however there will always be room for those who want to get their hands dirty.

Works Cited Arthur, Charles. "Election 2010: How Social Media Swung the Vote | Media | The Guardian." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. 3 May 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/30/social-media-election2010>. Cary, Mary Kate. "5 Ways New Media Are Changing Politics - US News and World Report." Breaking National and World News - US News. 4 Feb. 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/02/04/5-ways-new-media-are-changingpolitics.html>. "Don't Charge Wikileaks." Washington Post - Politics, National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - Washingtonpost.com. 11 Dec. 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/11/AR2010121102564.html>. Kaid, Lynda Lee. "POLITICAL PROCESSES AND TELEVISION." The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php? entrycode=politicalpro>. Montopoli, Brian. "Richard Blumenthal Regrets "Misplaced Words" on Vietnam Service - Political Hotsheet - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. 18 May 2010. Web. 16 Dec. 2010. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301503544_162-20005288-503544.html?tag=mncol;lst;2>.