Terry Heaton has written another terrific essay with this title in his series, "TV News in a Postmodern World." As in his earlier essays, his points have importance for the media that go far beyond TV news. A sample:
... By placing the Bible in the hands of commoners, [14th century reformer John] Wycliffe destroyed the secret weapon of the church hierarchy: protected knowledge. His opponents responded with the statement, "The jewel of the clergy has become the toy of the laity." ¶ So it is today as the personal media revolution undercuts the institution of the press, but the energy behind it all is actually much larger. Knowledge is empowering the commoners once again, and the jewel of the elites has become the toy of the masses. It is and will change our culture beyond even that of the Protestant Reformation, because it reaches into every aspect of life. ¶ What happens when the jewel that presents itself as expertise is shared by all? The knowledge=expertise equation is coming apart under the postmodern weight of experience and participation. "Who are the real experts?" we're beginning to ask, and increasingly, we're finding that "they" are us. ...
Must reading. Link: Donata Communications. --Dennis
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