A
new not-for-profit organization forming in Humboldt County plans to
hold its first meeting this month to discuss how to organize the
citizen media movement - locally, nationally and beyond. The group,
under the initial name of Citizen Media Net, holds an ambitious goal:
to bring about a “total revolution” in the way Americans
get their news and entertainment. “After this revolution, ideas
and information will flow not just from the top down, but from
everywhere to everywhere,” says Paul Benson, Arcata resident and
founder of the group.
The group aims to provide all types of citizen media-makers - amateurs
and pros alike - with the facilities, equipment, and training they need
to create powerful media content and deliver it to a mass audience.
“Rather than complain about mainstream media,” explains
Benson, “we’ll simply build our own media system - of, by,
and for ordinary people.”
By bringing strategic organization and support to the emerging citizen
media movement, Benson suggests that the group can help bring about an
age in which independent citizen media-makers can compete directly with
“Big Media.” An age, he says, in which ordinary citizens
will not only consume media content, but produce it.
Benson asserts that citizen media will be ‘the next big
thing.’ “That’s why Apple is touting its new 'iLife'
suite, an all-purpose set of tools designed for citizen media-makers.
Both Apple and Microsoft are bundling audio and video editing software
right into their operating systems. And people are using these tools,
too. Citizen media is sweeping across cyberspace. Anyone with iTunes
and a broadband internet connection is already set to discover a world
of citizen audio and video programming, for free, through the magic of
podcasting. It’s already starting to make traditional radio and
TV look a bit obsolete. And who's producing the shows? Regular people
like you and me. All signs are pointing to citizen media.”
“Our goal,” he continues, “is to take the citizen
media movement to the next level – to ramp it up and turn it into
a new media revolution, where the power of the press truly is in the
hands of the people, where it belongs.”
Much of Benson’s "revolutionary" vision involves the idea of
collaboration. “With our help, citizen media-makers will have, at
their fingertips, the tools they need to begin combining their skills,
talents, and equipment with those of other media-makers. Working
collaboratively in groups, we as individuals will no longer be held
back by our own personal limitations, or by our lack of professional
media experience. By collaborating, one person’s weaknesses are
compensated by the strengths of another. Collaboration will make our
media projects better, and as our content improves, we’ll draw
larger audiences. As more and more people tune in, citizen media will
be increasingly recognized as a credible alternative to mainstream
media. Perhaps it will even become the mainstream.”
The meeting is planned for Thursday, August 31st, at 7PM, at the Green
Life Evolution Center in Blue Lake. Directions and more information can
be found at www.newmediarevolution.net.
## END ##
______________________________________
SHORT VERSION:
“MEDIA REVOLUTION” – New Media Group Scheduled to Meet
A
new not-for-profit organization forming in Humboldt County plans to
hold its first meeting this month to discuss how to organize the
citizen media movement - locally, nationally and beyond. The group,
under the initial name of Citizen Media Net, holds an ambitious goal:
to bring about a “total revolution” in the way Americans
get their news and entertainment. “After this revolution, ideas
and information will flow not just from the top down, but from
everywhere to everywhere,” says Paul Benson, Arcata resident and
founder of the group.
The group aims to provide all types of citizen media-makers - amateurs
and pros alike - with the facilities, equipment, and training they need
to create powerful media content and deliver it to a mass audience.
“Rather than complain about mainstream media,” explains
Benson, “we’ll simply build our own media system - of, by,
and for ordinary people.”
By bringing strategic organization and support to the emerging citizen
media movement, Benson suggests that the group can help bring about an
age in which independent citizen media-makers can compete directly with
“Big Media.” An age, he says, in which ordinary citizens
will not only consume media content, but produce it.
Benson asserts that citizen media will be ‘the next big
thing.’ “That’s why Apple is touting its new 'iLife'
suite, an all-purpose set of tools designed for citizen media-makers.
Both Apple and Microsoft are bundling audio and video editing software
right into their operating systems. And people are using these tools,
too. Citizen media is sweeping across cyberspace. Anyone with iTunes
and a broadband internet connection is already set to discover a world
of citizen audio and video programming, for free, through the magic of
podcasting. It’s already starting to make traditional radio and
TV look a bit obsolete. And who's producing the shows? Regular people
like you and me. All signs are pointing to citizen media.”
“Our goal,” he continues, “is to take the citizen
media movement to the next level – to ramp it up and turn it into
a new media revolution, where the power of the press truly is in the
hands of the people, where it belongs.”
The meeting is planned for Thursday, August 31st, at 7PM, at the Green
Life Evolution Center in Blue Lake. Directions and more information can
be found at www.newmediarevolution.net.
## END ##
