Clay Shirky - End of Audience

 

End of Audience

Media Magazine reading


1) Looking over the article as a whole, what are some of the positive developments due to the internet highlighted by Bill Thompson?

. The internet connects us to other people and serves as a valuable source of knowledge.

. The internet provides a forum for people to communicate and debate their ideas.

. It has the potential to be used as a tool for active citizenship.

2) What are the negatives or dangers linked to the development of the internet?

One of the most hazardous aspects is that the network is unconcerned about the purpose of the data, which means that the internet could be used to harm others.

3) What does ‘open technology’ refer to? 

It refers to the idea that technology creates a level playing field with equal opportunities for all people, rather than supporting one group over another.

4) Bill Thompson outlines some of the challenges and questions for the future of the internet. What are they?

. Does it mean the internet is built around the end to end principle?

. How can the network ensure just services to the users?

These were just some of the questions Bill outlines.

5) Where do you stand on the use and regulation of the internet? 

On the internet, there has to be a lot more supervision and regulation. This rule should make it more difficult to obtain graphic content and prevent targeted harassment.

Clay Shirky: Here Comes Everybody


1) How does Shirky define a ‘profession’ and why does it apply to the traditional newspaper industry?

Clay Shirky discusses a profession that arose through the efforts of a large number of amateurs.

2) What is the question facing the newspaper industry now the internet has created a “new ecosystem”?

"What happens when the costs of reproduction and distribution go away? What happens when there's nothing unique about publishing anymore, because users can do it for themselves?"

3) Why did Trent Lott’s speech in 2002 become news?

It made headlines because he went out in defence of Thurmond, who was well-known for his strong republican views and sparked outrage.

4) What is ‘mass amateurisation’?

Mass amateurisation refers to the abilities that new forms of media have given non-professionals, and it is diminishing the entry barriers to a professional industry.

5) Shirky suggests that: “The same idea, published in dozens or hundreds of places, can have an amplifying effect that outweighs the verdict from the smaller number of professional outlets.” How can this be linked to the current media landscape and particularly ‘fake news’?

The assumption that something might increase its influence when it is published in dozens or hundreds of places has been related to false news because the more people see something online from many sources, the more likely they are to believe it.

6) What does Shirky suggest about the social effects of technological change? 

Scribes coexisted with publishers in the late 1400s, but they no longer provided an indispensable service. One societal aspect of technological advancement, according to Shirky, is chaos, because changes that occur online are not always positive or essential.

7) Shirky says that “anyone can be a publisher… [and] anyone can be a journalist”. What does this mean and why is it important?

This means that there are no constraints on who can be a publisher or journalist in today's world. Audiences can publish media on their own if they have the right stuff and don't rely on others.

8) What does Shirky suggest regarding the hundred years following the printing press revolution? 

According to Clay Shirky, the hundred years after the printing press revolution have allowed people to become producers rather than consumers.

9) Why is photography a good example of ‘mass amateurisation’?

Photography is a great illustration of this because many people now have smart phones with decent cameras, allowing them to shoot images at any time and in any location.

10) What do you think of Shirky’s ideas on the ‘End of audience’? 

Although this may put more pressure on larger companies to compete with independent creators and try to connect with an audience in the same way, mass amateurisation is mostly a good thing, as it allows those who may not have been able to get into certain industries to create and publish whatever they want.