Mediators - in the form of editors, TV news anchors, publishers - serve as a barrier for direct access to information in traditional media. As frequently noted in this forum, technologies like blogs, podcasts, and user generated video, form a backbone of a larger wave of change washing over our social fabric. Principles of open and direct access suggest that mediators are not required to the same degree as has formed the basis of media over the past century. YouTube and CNN are conducting an interesting experiment of allowing the voters to directly ask questions of presidential candidates. While not perfect (not all questions posed are asked (there is still some mediation, though I imagine that's required to keep things from slipping into chaos), and, as one article states, questions aren't always answered directly), it's an indication of the power shift from mediator to voter.
Posted by gsiemens at July 24, 2007 9:13 AM | TrackBack