The World Wide Web--a Tool not an Answer

I thought the World Wide Web could build a media reform movement that would save democracy and journalism from capitalism gone crazy. I was sure that the World Wide Web would give reformers a strong voice, but where would it be advertised? TV? Radio? I dont think so.

Media consolidation and commercialism has put journalism in a crisis. The news is sensationalized: Whose boobs are bigger this week? and what did Britney Spears do last week? This isnt journalism. Journalism wasnt created for a commercial invironment. Journalism was created to secure Democracy. And, that just isnt happening. Robert McChesney makes it very clear that universal access to the Internet is highly unlikely. Lets take a long hard look at what the World Wide Web doesnt have to offer.





Not everyone can afford a computer. His research reveals, that a significant portion of the American popolution doesnt have cable television, and one third doesnt even have telephone service. McChesney points his readers to Shapiro who argues that public policy is there answer, and reformers should move aggressivilly to promote and protect a public forum in cyberspace. Hmm! But is that enough?

McChesney provides enormous insight into the Technological Explosion of the World Wide Web: "I am not advancing a Luddite argument I merely point out that a central part of democratic communication policymaking is to evaluate the effects of a new technology before adopting it, to look before we leap. That has not been the case with the Internet or the information highway. Communications technologies have unanticipated and unintended effects, and one function of policymaking is to understand them so that we may avoid or minimize the undesirable ones." With capitalism gone crazy throughout Broadcast television and just about everywhere else how can we ensure that doesnt happen to the Internet?

Communication policy needs to change. And I support McChesney's solution: A well subsidized and democratic noncommercial and nonprofit media sector needs to be created.



But exactly how do we do to take part in building a communication revolution that serves a democracy? Stay tuned.