Indies face unique challenges, especially during startup
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 spoke about the initial efforts it took to gain traffic on his site. Although he said much of his readership was brought to him through past connections with Cornell students and other viewers interested in his opinions, most journalists who begin an independent blog must find ways to convince readers to choose to trust them from the vast selection of blogs available online. Jacobson explained that he gained a significant amount of exposure through links to his blog posted on other blogs. By forming relationships with other blogs, Jacobson said, online writers can quickly engage readers from similar media outlets.
Journalists must also consider the how type of exposure relates to traffic gained and the success of his or her blog. Jacobsen said because of his controversial conservative opinions, he received significant backlash from several of his posts, to the point where his life external to the blog was affected. The opportunity to publish one's opinions online is extremely unique to independent journalism, adding a level to transparency and also holding the authors accountable to their opinions. In an age where the Internet makes information widely accessible and responsive, independent journalism gives authors a chance to express their true opinions to their audience. It could affect the author negatively if their opinions contribute to the oppressive narrative of our country, and they will be held accountable for their opinions by readers who disagree with his or her opinions.
In my view, it improves the nature of online conversations to provide readers with the chance to immediately respond to information they consume online. For examples like Legal Insurrection, the transparency allows readers to respond to articles which completely discredit the left as "wild" and unfairly vilify the opinions of those who value the lives of oppressed Americans.
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 spoke about the initial efforts it took to gain traffic on his site. Although he said much of his readership was brought to him through past connections with Cornell students and other viewers interested in his opinions, most journalists who begin an independent blog must find ways to convince readers to choose to trust them from the vast selection of blogs available online. Jacobson explained that he gained a significant amount of exposure through links to his blog posted on other blogs. By forming relationships with other blogs, Jacobson said, online writers can quickly engage readers from similar media outlets.
Journalists must also consider the how type of exposure relates to traffic gained and the success of his or her blog. Jacobsen said because of his controversial conservative opinions, he received significant backlash from several of his posts, to the point where his life external to the blog was affected. The opportunity to publish one's opinions online is extremely unique to independent journalism, adding a level to transparency and also holding the authors accountable to their opinions. In an age where the Internet makes information widely accessible and responsive, independent journalism gives authors a chance to express their true opinions to their audience. It could affect the author negatively if their opinions contribute to the oppressive narrative of our country, and they will be held accountable for their opinions by readers who disagree with his or her opinions.
In my view, it improves the nature of online conversations to provide readers with the chance to immediately respond to information they consume online. For examples like Legal Insurrection, the transparency allows readers to respond to articles which completely discredit the left as "wild" and unfairly vilify the opinions of those who value the lives of oppressed Americans.
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