The desire to create a dissident press that would effect social change envisioned by William Heighton by creating the first labor newspaper in 1828 continued to rise even after the publication of the women liberation newspaper in the 1970s. The twentieth and early twenty-first century have seen changes in the landscape as social and political insurgents tried to define their brands. Two forces zine and the internet emerged recently and had affected the institutions and power relations of the country (Streitmatter, 2001). According to the author, the explosion of the internet to the dissident media landscape has led to significant changes in dissident journalism. It has reshaped communication and other traits that affect the profession. Therefore the effect of the internet to dissident journalism cannot be underestimated. This essay examines whether the internet has been good or bad for dissident journalism by looking at how it has changed the profession.
Streitmatter (2001) identified four significant contributions of the internet to dissident journalism. According to the author, it has reduced the cost of creating and disseminating information. Thus it has enabled individuals with the limited financial ability to publish and be agents of change. The internet removes the information monopoly present in the mainstream media which has resulted in a disenfranchised social, economic and political structure and therefore offering an alternative to mass media. It also enabled permanent placement of the content in websites where the reader can be informed and can even make reference to historical data stored in databases. Such material can be instrumental to the achievement of the mission, goals, and access to past events by the movement. It enhances the connection between individuals in far-flung places enabling them to build strong ties, share ideas and information and build a strong sense of the community. Therefore it enhances the union of ideologies irrespective of the geographical distance (Streitmatter, 2001).
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The power of the internet has seen some of the most influential anti-dissident press voices like the Bobby Seale and off our back move to the digital platform. Different other publications are also listed in websites. Some of the famous online publications include real change offering a monthly voice to the homeless population in Seattle. Earth First is an environmental journal that is against namby-pamby tactics like lobbying and letter writing while advocating direct action. The week online promotes the liberalization of drug laws with emphasis on marijuana to be used for medication (Streitmatter, 2001).
The online publications have not been in existence for a long time, but some have managed to advance their cause. Some of the achievement like the use of marijuana for medical purposes in some states cannot wholly be attributed to the online weekly, but its contribution cannot be underestimated. In the recent past, the media industry has seen different paradigm shifts whereby readers abandoned newspapers for television then to cable TV, later to the internet and other forms of media. Similarly, the level of trust and respect people had on journalism has also been eroded. The public views the news media as hungry for the negative side of each story. Dissident journalism is currently perceived as holding journalistic values while offering a sense of mission in its work. Dissident press demonstrates passion, sacrifice, conviction and commitment to its cause (Streitmatter, 2001).
According to Pierces (2011), dissident journalism faces censorship from the government following a string of terrorist attacks to U.S interests around the world. The government has been pushing hard for laws against politically incorrect expression. The internet has for instance been under censorship following such developments. Such a move is intended to eradicate any information sharing that can promote terrorism or even one that criticises the government for its hard stance on terror activities. The author notes that technological advancement including computing and the internet has enabled timely communication of a large number of people without being censored. The author, for instance, points out that he together with the National Alliance have used the acquired strength from the new media to build a bridgehead in the old mass media. The internet has the power to allow people to access forbidden information like in the case of Germany where individuals are not allowed to view material on World War 2, Jews, politically incorrect content and pornography.
The internet has been instrumental to a dissident journalist as it has provided an avenue for airing out their content while making it easier to share timely information. It has shifted the flow of news from the journalist by acting as an open and accessible information source. Dissident journalists do not use the internet for the same purpose or even context. According to studies, differences occur among journalist in the way they use the internet for journalist work. There are limited studies on the relationship between internet use and context variables (Garrison, 2000; Hui-Ming, 2001).
According to Fortunati et al., (2009) the internet is considered an avenue for reaching a wider audience. It is a unique tool for the journalists regarding material work practices even though it is not very influential as per the core responsibility of the journalistic profession. It has been instrumental in influencing the structural characteristics of the job regarding the speed, reach, and virtual public arena for expressing an opinion. According to the authors, the internet acts as a driver for new roles, is visible and open to the public. It allows the journalist to signal emerging trends as well as ideas and to maintain the connection with the readers. It also acts a distributor of credible information, as a spokesperson for different groups by providing in-depth analysis or acting as a watchdog.
The internet gives dissident journalists an opportunity to enhance their communication by making the news faster broader and accessible to a more general audience while strengthening an interactive potential of the channel. Dissident journalism has benefited from speed, interaction with the reader and the size of diffusion. Different features are evaluated differently by the journalist. Some are skeptical about the influence of the internet while others have fully embraced the web to disseminate information to their audience. The second category has welcomed the new developments to develop essential elements of journalism while accepting the unique opportunity to respond to their readers (Fortunati et al., 2009).
Dissident journalists who embrace technology and are more open appreciate the opportunities that arise from the use of the internet. The internet has proved to be instrumental in the improvement of the way they undertake their responsibilities. They have embraced the available opportunities to enhance their content and reach creating a more extensive online following. According to this category, the internet plays a pivotal role in the transfer of information making them more reliable than the traditional media (Fortunati et al., 2009).
Some of the dissident journalists have also recognized the role of the internet in influencing the political landscape of a country by allowing for public participation in debates that address the nation's political agenda. Similarly, some of them can exercise their watchdog role as a result of the enhancements of the internet. The relationships generated by the web are more likely to be stronger compared to the traditional media based on the fact that the journalist can give and receive instantaneous feedback from the followers. Such prompt feedback engages the reader more encouraging them to participate in online discussions actively. Active participation builds the profile of the journalist as they can improve their journalistic styles.
The internet has emerged as a grand transformative force by creating new environments that indicate the transition from an industrial society to a knowledge-based or digital society. It has replaced the vertical and unidirectional communication with a horizontal and multidirectional model where people are producers and consumers of the content or even receivers and broadcasters of information. The internet has transformed the traditional media outlets to be one of the many others. Through the internet, individuals no longer need journalist for their voices to be heard or even to be informed. People have the control and can say or listen to whatever they want at any time and any place (Franco, 2009).
The effect of the internet has affected journalism in three distinct ways, i.e., the dynamic of the generated news and information, the required skills for survival and prosperity in the new environment and the professional practice. Dissident journalists are capitalizing on digital technology to reach the intended audience and to pass their messages. Journalists, in general, have used this capability to elevate their standards. There are however many challenges as the journalists try to identify sustainable models for financing. Digital technology is attaining widespread use in investigative journalism where a variety of techniques are used including textual content to complex databases and infographics that can be used by other journalist and the citizens. Citizen journalism is also gaining popularity but faces challenges from the growing social networks.
Issues like comments by the dissident journalist on media outlets raise the problem as some of the comments are inflammatory or unethical. Legal cases are also likely to arise as some of the comments are directed at individuals without adequate supporting evidence. There are issues with the anonymity and responsibility of the content generated by the user. Similarly, some of the dissident journalists advocate items that are considered to be against the interest of the society. The use of the mobile technology regarding citizen participation, content distribution and access to information is self-contradicting. The internet has enabled the traditional media to go online where there is more information that is flowing yet there are no changes in journalism. The speed at which news spread has drastically increased and the news is timeless and transparent (Franco, 2009; Hermans, Vergeer & d'Haenens, 2009).
Access to new on the internet hurts dissident journalism by changing the habits of the readers and also the cost to news gathering and traditional media is too high. The line between opinion and facts is now blurred, and it is difficult to differentiate the two. The internet has allowed the flourishing of extremist thoughts while impairing balanced judgment. The availability of news on the internet has widened the field of journalism to additional competition. There is a sudden increase in quantity, but the determination of the quality may be a new issue. Some of the dissident journalists are not applying professional standards and ethics in their work, and most cases spread heresy and controversial information that cannot be regarded as objectively presented. The use of propaganda by dissident journalist worsens an already severe condition. With the onset of the internet and the rise of the dissident journalist, it is becoming difficult to determine the reliability or even trace the source of information (Franco, 2009; Hermans, Vergeer & d'Haenens, 2009).
Despite the shortcomings, the internet has presented an opportunity where a journalist can interact with their readers, share real-time information, receive feedback from the public and give their opinion. It has also made it possible to engage the public in the online debate which helps in shaping the agenda of a country. Through such discussions, it is possible to address some of the issues that are affecting the country. Similarly, the journalist can engage the public in political and policy debates which can be useful in shaping the political landscape and policy issues of the nation (Hermans, Vergeer & d'Haenens, 2009).
As the internet usage grows, more information is available to the people on current issues than in the previous years. It is the availability of quality information that is a plus for the dissident journalism for information gathering and public use. The internet has proved to be an excellent source of information for the dissident journalist. They can send timely information to their networks, share opinions and criticize or advocate for issues that are affecting the community. The public, for instance, has more information than the mainstream media which implies that the Dissident journalist can use this platform to gather information from the public in a cheaper and timely way. It creates an avenue where the journalist can learn from the public and use the knowledge gained to enhance their advocacy work. (Hermans, Vergeer & d'Haenens, 2009; Hui-Ming, 2001).
References
Franco, G. (2009). The impact of digital technology on journalism and democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean . Austin: Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas--Austin.
Fortunati, L., Sarrica, M., O'Sullivan, J., Balcytiene, A., Harro-Loit, H., & Macgregor, P. et al. (2009). The Influence of the Internet on European Journalism. Journal Of Computer-Mediated Communication , 14 (4), 928-963. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01476.x
Garrison, B. (2000). Journalists’ perceptions of online information-gathering problems. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 77(3), 500–514
Hermans, L., Vergeer, M., & d'Haenens, L. (2009). Internet in the Daily Life of Journalists: Explaining the use of the Internet by Work-Related Characteristics and Professional Opinions. Journal Of Computer-Mediated Communication , 15 (1), 138-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01497.x
Hui-Ming, P. (2001). The challenge to professional journalism: How Taiwan’s reporters evaluate and utilize Internet information. Paper presented at The Tenth International World Wide Web Conference. from http://www10.org/program/society/peng/www10.html
Pierces, W. (2011). American Dissident Voices . Melbourne Australia: Shane Webster.
Streitmatter, R. (2001). Voices of revolution: The dissident press in America . New York: Columbia University Press.
