Enter World: exploring mediated cultures

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Community Funded Reporting

The potential of social networking for news, through community or independent journalism, is vast. However, there will be a gap in in-depth investigative reporting if professional organizations with funding no longer dig deeper into stories. This isn’t to say that the mass media are fulfilling this entirely. I’m skeptical of the news industry in its current form. The same wire stories are plopped into every local paper, the papers reprint articles from other papers and quote one another.

I miss the imagined days of real reporting: muckraking and breaking huge cover ups. Maybe it really happened the way I imagine it, but it certainly doesn’t happen enough now. There are some magazines out there willing to spend the money to investigate a topic over a long period of time to get to the guts, but that’s happening less and less. Despite the drawbacks of the mass media, the public taking control doesn’t yet offer a full alternative. There is only so much we can tell one another through word of mouth and without taking time out of our lives to get first-hand information. Certain individuals, or groups, will need to become amateur reporters and spend significant amounts of time and energy covering the news.

One thing that gives me hope for the future of community journalism is the development of spot.us—a 2008 winner of the Knight News Challenge. Spot.us is a news version of the UK trend to publicly fund musicians so they can make their own albums, like sellaband.com. It’s a way for a reporter to bring an idea to the public and let them decide if it’s worth covering. The articles that get funded get written, edited, and distributed.

A community-focused social network like this fills the void and levels the playing field. Amateurs and professional journalists alike will be able to apply for funding, and we the people will be able to choose what gets investigated in our communities. We Media, most definitely.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Technophobia

Fielding added new electronic books to one of the online libraries, and I spent a while yesterday skimming through them. The content of Technophobia: The Psychological Impact of Information Technology stuck with me the most. Technophobia is a fear of technology (distinct from social convictions opposed to the use of technology) that affects 1/3 of the industrialized world.

What was interesting to me was the inclusion of sex/gender theories with research showing women had a higher rate of technophobia. Brosnan looked at the difference in male and female levels of technophobia through psychological concepts of gender versus biological bases. The idea is that the physical state of being female is not necessarily what makes a woman more anxious about using technology, but rather the acceptance of the societal beliefs about femininity. When the computer itself was not masculinized by the social group, girls and boys were balanced in their technology use. In situations where the computer was masculinized, women with higher levels of masculinity used computers more. The same is not true for men—a lower level of masculinity in men was linked to a higher interest in computers.

Overall the book is interesting, I just wish I could download it to my iLiad so that I wasn’t tied to the computer. Reading an entire book on the computer screen is not going to happen, that’s why I bought the portable reader.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Exposing Braddock

I started another section on this site to explore the details of renovating a house in Braddock. My plan is to collect stories about Braddock, rehabbing, and contractors to share with others who may be interested in visiting or moving here. Rather than blogging chronologically about it, I’ve chosen to write in more detail on specific topics. It’s a rough-in right now, but I’m making some progress with content.

Part of the decision was based on filling up my Flickr account with photos of destruction in the house that all looked the same. It needed more, the photos needed their stories told. Also, it was annoying me that only the latest 200 demo photos were available in my photostream. My solution was to use my own site, and make more out of the photos.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Network Neutrality & Google

Back in May I ran across a link to a site that allowed users to test whether their ISPs were throttling connections to specific sites. It was a German sitethat I never was able to connect to—first the servers were full, now it’s gone.

Friday Google announced that it is working on software to allow users to find out just this information.

There have been some observers pointing out that Google would benefit from this by retaining a stronghold on searches, because in a world where people fear they are being watched a competitor could create a masked search engine. I have little doubt everything done in the Internet is already being logged and watched in some way. My concern lies more in the area of ISPs accepting payment for restricting access to specific sites.

Google has been coming out with some spectacular programs lately. I was on the fence when the company went public, but so far I do appreciate the new bells and whistles being offered. When they do release this tool, I’ll be jumping to test it.

Friday, June 13, 2008

The Power of Zines

Zines save lives...that’s what Justin Hocking tells us. Justin is the executive director of Portland Oregon’s Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC), which provides training, events, and libraries for independently published creations. I’ve taken a tour of the library and work spaces, and just thinking about the letterpresses they have available in there gets me excited about taking back the media and making zines. 

So what is this about saving lives? In addition to IPRC’s ten years of enabling publishing, they are now working on a Media Action Program (MAP) teaching teens to critically de-construct media messages. Following is an interview with Justin about the program, the power of zines, and independent publishing’s influence on culture:

1) Let’s start with a little bit about you first: What drew you to independent publishing?

I always wanted to be a writer.  Some friends introduced me to zines in college and I was hooked.  I collaborated on a bunch of zines and eventually made my own skateboard zine called Landpirate.  After studying creative writing in graduate school, I moved to New York City and worked as an editor for a publishing company.  I really liked editing, but a big part of my job was reading hundreds of submissions and writing rejection letters.  I got tired of that and New York in general, so I jumped at the chance to come back out west to Portland.  I love working at the IPRC, where instead of rejecting people’s work, I can show them how to publish it themselves!

2) MAP addresses the deconstruction of media messages by teens. What about zines makes them the chosen style of independent publishing for this outreach program?

I think zines and writing in general require a pretty high level of introspection, thought and creativity.  And starting back with Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” self-publications have been successful vectors for critical thinking and even dissent.  On a more practical level, zines are fairly simple and can be produced right in a classroom, sometimes in less than two hours, and then students have something tangible to take home and share.

3) You have said “Our ultimate goal is to help young people move from being passive consumers of media to active creators of artwork, writing, zines, and ultimately, the culture they live in.” What role do zines and zine makers play in the expanding presence of participatory media in our society? And what differences or similarities do you see between creation of and participation in media versus consumption?

Zinesters have always been at the forefront of participatory culture.  An aesthetic that I believe is central to most zines is the idea that when the media isn’t serving you or the world, it’s time to become the media. And I think that for a lot of young people, the media is actually doing them a disservice, in the way that it glamorizes violence, unattainable standards of beauty and conspicuous consumption.  Something we talk about during MAP sessions is the way the constant bombardment of media messages can actually affect your thinking and your behavior.  In their zines, students are pretty open about the fact that mainstream media affects their sense of self esteem, the way they define beauty, and the way they define what is means to be a “real” man or woman.  So we try to empower them to challenge negative media messages in their zines.  By creating a zine, they become the media and actually help re-create culture.  You can see it happening just in the culture of the classroom--when people have something creative to work on, there’s a kind of fun, collaborative spirit that lights up the room.  That spirit is present every day at the IPRC, and over ten years I really believe we’ve had a positive affect on the overall culture in Portland.

It’s interesting to see how many zinesters are now using internet technology and blogging as a way to cross-pollinate their creative projects. It’s exciting to see truly visionary people like this coming up with forums that encourage actual participation.  On the other hand, so much contemporary media--tv shows, movies, certain web content--allows people to sort of “check out.” People have difficult lives and they need to check out sometimes, of course, but the danger is that we become a nation of passive consumers.  I personally find the contemporary DIY craft movement really encouraging--so many people are in to creating things (including handmade and incredibly artful zines), rather than just shopping.  It gives people a sense of meaning and purpose, and whether or not they’re conscious of it, they’re influencing the larger culture.  That’s what the IPRC’s all about.

4) When will the workshops begin and what schools will be participating?

MAP began officially in September of 2007.  We held quite a few workshops this past school year, in places like Franklin High School, the Caldera Arts program, Clackamas Community College and Janus Shelter for Youth.

5) Where can readers find more information about this program or contact you?

They can read more on our website, www.iprc.org, or give us a ring at 503.827.0249 and ask for Justin or AnnMarie.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Accessing mediated cultures

The concept of a truly democratic internet culture is being eroded by access. Although large corporations have been building sites and trying to take over the internet terrain for years, at least users still have the choice of what to visit—or we did.

Our limited options for accessing the internet are beginning to take even that decision away. I’m staying at a place right now that uses Comcast, and it’s like constantly hitting my head against the wall. I work from home, so I need to be able to upload and download large files. But the more you use, the slower your service gets. I’ve also noticed a significant difference in accessing lowes.com and homedepot.com—Home Depot’s site works and Lowe’s doesn’t. This makes me feisty and annoyed, so I drive to Lowe’s and buy things there since I can’t compare prices online and the stores are in opposite directions. I don’t appreciate Comcast partnering with Home Depot to slow down my access to competitors. So Lowe’s wins. Another blacklisted company I’ve noticed is Netflix, which makes sense now that Comcast has Fancast—a competitor to Netflix.

What really are our options for internet access? It seems like any smaller company providing access is just renting the lines from Comcast or Verizon, so the services will still have the same limitations. Here’s what I can come up with ...

Comcast. High speed, unless you use it. Don’t be fooled by the connections they offer, since they will just “manage” your access in the end.

3G wireless internet access anywhere you roam. ATT (also available through other providers). Limited to a single computer, but accessible from anywhere with satellite, radio, or cell phone signals. Drawback: ATT happily sells wire tapping of phone lines, so prepare to sign up for exhibitionism along with service.

Verizon FiOS. This is my choice for now. I’m sure there are problems with Verizon just like any other company, but at least they won’t tell me what I can and can’t access. Plus the FiOS option, as opposed to DSL, finally brings their service up to a competitive speed with cable service providers.

Are there other options I’m missing?

Monday, June 02, 2008

Tweets from space

“The first dig on Mars is complete. Here are images of the dig http://tinyurl.com/5hdanw and scoop with dirt in it http://tinyurl.com/62hbyv”
posted about 7 hours ago to Twitter by MarsPhoenix

I grew up in South Florida watching space shuttles take off outside of my schools instead of on the television. We were 150 miles away from Cape Canaveral, but the launches were still easily visible. My first “when I grow up I want to be...” that I can remember was an astronaut.

Back then I wrote to NASA, letters that is, and they sent me photos of planets and moons and the earth from space. Now fans of all ages can find information on shuttles, the solar system, astronauts and so much more at the NASA site, which is a huge leap forward in user interaction from mailed promotional packages. The addition of Twitter updates allows even more options for fans to read about the expedition and ask questions through mobile text, the web, and desktop applications. I’m still convinced that’s the thing Twitter does best: allow the users to choose how they send and receive content. 

The New York Times covered the MarsPhoenix Twitter account and its fandom Saturday. At the time journalist Kenneth Chang noted 9,636 followers ... today that number is already up to 15,430 (and I haven’t added it yet). NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory also has 1,190 fans on Facebook, but that pales in comparison to the everyday interaction with the rapidly growing audience at Twitter. 

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Congratulations to BlogHer

I met Erin Ketecki Vest at the SNCR forum in April when she presented about mommy bloggers and politics. I was surprised to learn about the controversy surrounding, or being thrown at, women who are mothers and also blog. Apparently the act of sharing draws criticism from certain elements.

This week I ran across Erin’s interview with Senator Obama. A huge congratulations is in order. The women at BlogHer were persistent and worked for this interview with Obama, and they made it. It’s fantastic to see bloggers being taken seriously by a presidential candidate. 

Monday, May 26, 2008

Developing Relationships With Media Characters

I’ve been exploring the emotional interactions we feel with media, specifically stories and characters. Feeling connected to the players in a story, from identifying with a novel’s characters to laughing with local DJs, taps many of the same mental processes as forming a physical relationship.

These relationships have been compared to cultivating an imaginary friend as a child—not because the media players are necessarily imaginary (though many are, and attributing fictional roles to the actors who play them is a topic for later discussion), but because the relationships are one way. This frames our connections with media characters not as pathologies, but instead as ways of learning about social issues and interactions. Rather than disconnecting with reality, these bonds with people we most likely will never meet allow us to experience new situations with emotional connections that encourage empathy and a desire to understand the situations and characters involved.

Known as parasocial relationships, the connections mainly are explored in communications research. I’m happy to see the new article in Perspectives on Psychological Science this month bringing the topic into modern psychological theory.

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Further Reading:
Giles, David C. (2002). Parasocial interaction: A review of the literature and a model for future research. Media Psychology, 4(3), 279-304. Retrieved May 17, 2008, from informaworld.
Mar, Raymond & Oatley, Keith A. (May 2008). The function of fiction is the abstraction and simulation of social experience. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(3), 173-192.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Braddock on Jim Lehrer

PBS did an excellent piece on Braddock that is available to view online: Green Industry Hub Rises From Rust Belt Ruins. There are streaming video, audio, and text options available on the site.