The concept of mass amateurization that Clay Shirky has introduced us to explains two things regarding media's dramatic evolution. Firstly, it seems that there is a slim division between what constitutes a professional and what constitutes an amateur in the realm of media technology. At least, based on the traditional ideas our society has held regarding professionalism. This being that a professional "anything" is a trained, reliable, and indispensable expert with some sort of degree or recognition to support his or her position and title. Also, this so-called professional belongs to a minority group based on his or her exclusive skills and aptitude. This leads to the second idea that lies within the concept of mass amateurization. Media technology, particularly the internet, has broadened the margins of exclusivity. Hence, some professions that were once exclusive, have become inclusive in all respects of the word, as we have seen with journalism. In "Everyone is a Media Outlet," Clay Shirky states that "if anyone can be a publisher, then anyone can be a journalist" (Shirky 71).
We are all familiar with Ralph Hanson's fifth truth by now, which states that "new media are always scary" (Hanson 33). If this is the case, professionals and professions that previously did not rely on newer media outlets, such as the internet, to enable the proper and adequate execution of their work, may need to step up to the technology plate in order to actually keep their jobs. Hence fear may be greatest, not amongst those who form part of the "older" school media population, but amongst those within the "older" school media population that refuse to embrace and conform to the current changes in our media landscape, as Shirky mentions in the video presented in Ted's blog. Now, I don't think that fear is something that Shirky is trying to invoke in anyone, nor is he insinuating that advancements in media technology are presenting a dilemma that needs to be feared. I think Shirky is more concerned about invoking a sense of awareness, particularly to those who, like his uncle Howard, cannot fathom how a newspaper in print form could eventually become a historic artifact.
The reality is that as long as the "earthquake in slow motion continues" (Hanson 319), forms of print media may become obsolete, affecting, not all professional journalists, but professional journalists who cannot assimilate the "major changes to the structure of their profession" (Shirky 59). Based on the media's historic timeline which clearly shows a record of replacement, will newspapers and magazines in traditional print format be replaced completely by digital formats? Well, if scribes were replaced by movable type, which was replaced by the original printing press, which was further replaced by the steam-powered printing press, all for the convenience of mass production and mass dissemination, then complete digital replacement is quite feasible. However, if professional journalists in the industry want to fight for the preservation of traditional newspapers, they may have a chance if they are clever and innovative enough in how they approach its hopeful preservation. Nevertheless, their quest for preservation will surely involve collaboration with their greatest threat--the internet, or rather the amateur journalists that have contributed to the current and revolutionary media landscape. This may sound inconsistent, but it's part of the consensus Shirky is trying to promote.
For now, it doesn't seem like the internet is ready to completely take over other media sources, nor do I think it has completely squashed journalism as a legitimate profession. This is mainly because enough people still rely on the "older" media, and enough people still respect journalism as a legitimate profession that cannot exist without the legitimate journalist by its side. I think we still live in a highly selective world that is hesitant to let go of all the variation and the abundance of choices we have when it comes to media. While we have developed a sense of respect and admiration for citizen journalism, and rely on the things we read from people we don't know, we are a society that still values hierarchical structure as well. Whether one's place in the hierarchy is determined by a degree, a brand name, an award, or a reputation, most of us still place primary reliance on sources that are deemed "official" and "legitimate" by the majority.
Works Cited
Shirky, Clay. "Everyone is a Media Outlet." Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations. New York: Penguin, 2008. 55-80. Print.
Hanson, Ralph E. Mass Communication: Living in a Media World. Vol. 3. Washington, DC: CQ, 2011. Print.
Lott, Chris. "Computer Monkeys." 26 April 2006. Online image. Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/135465558/
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