The document discusses the concept of "We Media" and its implications for democracy. It argues that traditional media systems maintain a "spectator democracy" by controlling information, but that the rise of grassroots online journalism by bloggers (termed "We Media") has allowed news to be published and spread in real-time by ordinary people. This shifts power away from a small number of large corporations and towards the public. The document also discusses how the internet has empowered audiences and made them more creative through platforms like blogs and social media.

1. ‘We Media’ &
Democracy

2. 
In what ways is British society democratic?
(3 min.)
Democracy

3. 
In what ways is British society democratic?
(3 min.)

In what ways is British society not democratic?
(3 min.)
Democracy

4. 
In what ways is British society democratic?
(3 min.)

In what ways is British society not democratic?
(3 min.)

What is Democracy?
Democracy
(3 min.)

5. 
The issue with Democracy is that it is very
debatable in terms of what it exactly means and
what it should entitle us as citizens too.
Democracy

6. 
The issue with Democracy is that it is very
debatable in terms of what it exactly means and
what it should entitle us as citizens too.

For the purpose of this unit, it is best to adopt a
somewhat critical perspective towards
democracy- to understand that as citizens we
have very little real input into what the
government does.
Democracy

7. Argues that the public have
very little access to what
should be public informationessentially, that we have a
‘Spectator’ Democracy.

Further argues that there
is an elitist media system that helps for this
system to prevail- often through
propaganda

Noam Chomsky

8. Endorsement of Chomsky?

9. 
‘It’s all about power, of course. In the end’
- Roger Silverstone
How does this relate to Media?

10. Traditional
ProducerAudience
Relationship

11. New ProducerAudience
Relationship?

12. 
Think of at least 2 examples of why audiences
have become more powerful and/or producers
have become less powerful?
Power Shift?

13. David Gauntlett summarised the idea of WEB 2.0
In a nutshell, Gauntlett says that we now have an
ability to be more creative and with more freedom
(linking to greater happiness).
WEB 2.0 allows for faster, more collaborative
creativity, and feeds a desire to be connected.
Watch this video to help us understand…
WEB 2.0

14. The book is about how the proliferation of grassroots
internet journalists (bloggers) has changed the way news
is handled.
One of the book's main points is that a few big media
corporations cannot control the news we get any longer,
now that news is being published in real-time, available to
everybody, via the Internet. The book received
widespread praise from the demographic it covered, and
mixed reviews elsewhere.
Dan Gilmoor

15. A Quick Recap
Chomsky:
- we live in a spectatorship democracy
- the media ensures that this system remains in
place
 Media Power:
- traditionally media has been about producers
telling/having power over audiences. This has
changed somewhat


16. ‘We Media’
As the name implies this refers to media that we
(‘normal’ citizens) are able to make.
 The debate is whether these are able to lead to
a more democratic system of media and what
implications this has for wider society


17. Objective
Develop an understanding
and appreciation for the
(relatively recent) changes in
the media.