Web 2.0 is Inevitable, despite the Grumbling
I always enjoy reading about how technology is destroying our culture. Brad Inman points out how the Web 2.0 backlash is starting with the new Andrew Keen book The Cult of the Amateur. The book's title is literal - in essence, Keen says the journalistic traditions that insure accurate, objective and insightful reporting of news and information are being usurped by legions of amateur Web 2.0 citizen journalists. I haven't read the book yet, but NYT book critic Michiko Kakutani's review supports Keen's thesis that “ the Web 2.0 revolution is really delivering superficial observations of the world around us rather than deep analysis, shrill opinion rather than considered judgment.”
And I completely agree with Mr. Keen...
But I simply sigh and wonder how the technology critics propose to reverse the inexorable adoption of a populist technology like Web 2.0. Keen's argument captures a snapshot reality - Web 2.0 degrades information - but the fallacy is there can be no reverting back to a state where journalists and other old guard cultural beacons rule the gateways of information. And Mr. Keen doesn't seem to propose a vision that might correct the gaming of the information distribution system that Web 2.0 may be creating... (I'll have to read the book to find out...)
Web 2.0 is inevitable and here are some old world metaphors illustrating the Pandora's Box of technological sea change:
Movies > Television
"I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can't stop eating peanuts."
- Orson Welles, famous film director
Television
vulgarized the art of film making as a new medium with "on-the-fly"
production values that couldn't replicate the insightfulness and plotting of a feature film.
Audio Recordings > Radio
"When radio stations started playing music the record companies started suing radio stations. They thought now that people could listen to music for free, who would want to buy a record in a record shop? But I think we all agree that radio stations are good stuff."
- Niklas Zennstrom, co-founder of KaZaa, Skype and Joost
Radio
was real time mass media, the internet of their day... and it's easy to
see in hindsight market forces always adapt. This is a great old world
quote from the founder of successful online companies that are changing
industries.
Mainframes > PCs
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of DEC
This now famous quote has become the business symbol of denial. I think newspaper companies for the most part were in denial during the Web 1.0 era when news and information still flowed one way. Web 2.0 is forcing their business adaptation.
Old Fifth Estate > Web 2.0 media
“Andrew Keen is a brilliant, witty, classically-educated technoscold—and thank goodness. The world needs an intellectual Goliath to slay Web 2.0's army of Davids.”
- Jonathan Last, online editor, The Weekly Standard
Journalists laud Mr. Keen's book, but I think they understand that David is winning... journalists are all starting their own blogs or news services as they adapt to market forces.
Related articles:
- The Impact of Social Media will be Huge in Real Estate
- How the Media Industry Miscalculated the Internet
- Downfall of Traditional News Media
- Pundits confer Respectability unto Bloggers
Technorati Tags: Andrew Keen, Cult of the Amateur, web 2.0, social media, blogging, social networking, luddite,
When I read anything about Keen, I think of another quote:
"Marge, it takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen."
Homer Simpson
Geez... the problem with the noble journalist is that they are prone to the belief, that they should editorialize than report the news. Ala Dan Rather.
I have another quote that I like when I think about the intellectual elite and their thoughts on what information we the public should consume.
"I'd more trust the workings of the American government to the first 400 people in the Boston phone book than 400 Harvard scholars."
William F. Buckley...
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Excellent post.
My counterpoint to Keen was best stated by somebody else.
"Most who write for Old Media are professional journalists, but amateurs in the topics they write about. By contrast, most of the leading, elite bloggers are experts in their specialized topic areas, but amateurs in journalism. Is the public really better off reading amateur-grade information from journalists rather than professional-grade information from non-journalists? More to the point, will they prefer it?"
More here.
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. . and the main stream new media doesn't editorialize or dumb it down or mostly report on the sensational? If it bleeds it lead.
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It truly is amazing to see people who can't relate those historical trends to what's going on today. Citizen journalists have already advanced from a quaint little trend to the checking and balancing force to the mainstream media. It's not going to be long before Web 2.0 becomes the dominant medium of information distribution.
http://mikeelliottsblog.wordpress.com
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"Everything that can be invented – has already been invented"
- Charles Duell, United States Patent Office, 1899.
That one has always been my favorite.There's an unconceived solution for every conceivable problem. I think I'll wait to see how reader's fully harness Web 2.0 be fore I condemn the noise level.
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Why do we give this assault credance? If I had not read the blog on Inman about Keen I would never have heard of his book or his criticism of web 2.0 and I would be better for it.
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Oh and one quote for the ages:
"Son it ain't braggin if you can do it!"
My Dad
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Perhaps the authors mistakenly believe that the general populace is interested in real thinking. Critical thinking takes intelligence, effort, curiosity, love, and time.
You could probably create an intriguing image by comparing the increased sales of Cliff Notes over the years to SAT scores, grade point averages and inane TV. But, like, you know - we're already awash in the results.
My other thought - I've read many more bloggers that have something intelligent to say - whose opinions I trust and value than the Dan Rathers and Bill O'Reillys of the world. Rather in my opinion is a numbskull, too thick-headed for his own good and O'Reilly, as much as he likes to bloviate about his championing of the average guy - needs a good Catholic lesson in manners - motor-mouth control.
But than - hey - who are we kidding - journalism is more about ratings and entertainment than news and thinking.
Final word - the Internet allows people to rise or sink to their preferred level of intelligence.
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I don't have an opinion on this yet.
Bob Dylan can't sing or play guitar, but that did not stop him. Was this a good thing? Most bloggers can't write, but that does not stop us.
Certainly the mainstream media sensationalizes or distorts stories. But, wth all of the amateurs bloggers out there trying desperately to come up with catchy "link bait," who is to say that they won't succumb to the same temptations? I hardly think the bloggers will come up with more objective information that Dan Rather will. But you can bet there will be more speling misteaks.
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I go back to my college days and reading Marshall McLuhan's "The Medium Is The Message". The Medium, in this case web 2.0, is the message and it is allowing more and more people to communicate one-to-one. This is changing the world. Most people fear change of any kind. Enough said.
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Only 1-3% of all real estate agents are blogging. I am new myself and it's a lot of work. I surely could find much more fun things to do then read blogs..but I'm tired of the whiners. Thanks for helping me..I will read as much here and forward your site on to others.
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