Wiki Innovators Rethink Openness
The first piece of citizen journalism created by Assignment Zero, a "pro-am" collaboration between Wired and NewAssignment.net, explores crowdsourcing.
Politicians have long grown used to facing the wrath of the rabble. It was the vote that brought them to heel. Now, it seems, the web may subject journalists to similar treatment. We shouldn't be surprised that they don't like it. Priesthoods prefer quiescent congregations.
For the moment, our media elite just doesn't seem to get it. The Guardian's director of digital content, announcing she has a "duty of care" to protect contributors from abuse, sounds like the Speaker, trying to safeguard MPs from attacks on their dubious perks. Yet even he doesn't attempt to insulate his flock from mere denigration.
The media's audience has seized hold of the microphone. It will express itself as it will, and we shall all be the better for it.