Annie's Indy Media Musings

I grew up during an incredibly interesting time in technological history. My childhood lacked the concept of the Internet, while today's children are fully immersed in Internet culture. I remember first beginning to integrate the Internet into my life during middle school, where I spent some of my limited "computer time" watching YouTube videos or reading articles online. Back then, YouTube was a side note to my Internet experience, and it is mind-blowing to me how I watched YouTube transform before my eyes from an entertaining activity to a platform for creating a brand and spreading information - one which can even foster successful careers. As we witness through this technological transformation the shifting of values from formality to transparency, I view YouTube as an exciting opportunity for the future of journalism. I am optimistic for the success of YouTube in assisting with the spread of information through transparency and the integration of entertainment and ...

Independent media bring to the table a new set of guidelines in journalism. Giving a voice to those who are not tied to the agenda of large corporations opens up a new level of transparency as well as ethical issues in journalism. Breaking away from the support and control of these large corporations is a challenge faced by these independent media outlets, and starting up in a world of corporatization adds unique roadblocks for those who wish to make their way in independent journalism. I had the exceptional opportunity to listen to Cornell's William A. Jacobson speak about his experience starting the independent conservative website Legal Insurrection , allowing me to ponder both the opportunities and roadblocks one can come across when establishing an independent source. Although I heavily disagreed with much of the conservative journalism featured on the website, I had ample to learn from Jacobson's experiences navigating the complex readership of the Internet. Jacobson ...

We have entered a new age of journalism - it is more accessible than ever for both readers and writers who wish to contribute to the narrative that is unfolding. This age began in the 90s when use of the Internet was becoming more widespread. This timeline of the biggest moments in journalism-blogging history shows just how much of an impact independent bloggers have on the master narrative. Despite the many ethical issues that come with blogging - such as the potential for false information - - blogging has given authors the freedom to publish their knowledge without working for a televised news corporation. This can be life or death in some situations - namely in the September 11 attacks. The publication of news and lists of survivors could have been vital for those desperately waiting to confirm the safety of their loved ones. This is information that cannot necessarily be delivered by the mainstream media in enough time for it to be useful. In this way blogging has filled a gap ...

As a middle-class, white, privileged young woman, I feel that to have a completed worldview I must make an effort to understand those who are less privileged than I. This is one of the most important principles to me when taking in the news – are all  voices heard? Is the master narrative a fair analysis for everyone? Independent sources like Colorlines serve a twofold purpose: they help people of color who are often silenced by the mainstream media to stay informed about their communities, and it helps those who come from much more privileged positions to understand what these communities go through on a daily basis. Colorlines has a clean, organized interface with the trending topics listed across the top of the page – Trump presidency, gender and sexuality, Islamophobia, and criminalization. These topics are life and death for communities of color, yet somehow the mainstream media fails to capture the perspectives that Colorlines magnifies. Many people have the privilege to i...

It is widely debated whether the emergence of social media and writing for the Internet has created a new level of transparency, or if it works against journalists by providing misinformation. While the latter may often be true, it is also undeniable that the Internet gives a voice to millions of people who otherwise would be silenced by the mainstream media. Young entrepreneurs like Tavi Gevinson, who came to public attention at the age of 12, are able to produce quality material and present it to the public in whichever form they feel works best, without the stigma that surrounds being a young girl. It seems to me that without the Internet it would be otherwise impossible for a young 12-year old girl to have her opinions heard and taken seriously. Young girls in particular are rarely validated by mainstream culture, which often writes them off as emotional and naive. It is not common that these girls are given a platform to voice their opinions, and Tavi Gevinson's Rookie Mag d...

How can the media better represent the voices of its country's people? This is a question that has become more relevant than ever during last year's presidential election and the whirlwind of horror that followed. The solution seems clear to me yet still murky to much of the country, which has been discouraged by the president's intense rhetoric condemning journalists and the most prominent journalistic outlets. As President Trump cites "the media" as one of his greatest enemies, he discredits the loudest and most rational voices against his presidency in a genius move that encouraged his supporters to form an opinion from rumors, rhetoric, and just plain lies. So if journalists are "sick people," in the President's own words, how can the people in our country possibly have their voices heard? It seems strange that the President refers to all journalism with these rhetorical blanket terms without considering the varying methods of different jour...