The Mediasphere

One of the most valuable ways to learn is peer-to-peer interaction and collaboration. By listening to a presentation by fellow classmates about the Mediasphere, I learned about the following topics: Mainstream Media, Alternative Media, Citizen Journalism, Echo Chamber, Whistleblower, and Reliable Sources.

Mainstream Media

In 1983, 50 companies controlled 90% of media. Now, in 2019, that same percentage is controlled by only 6 companies, creating, shaping, and sharing the media we consume on a daily basis. A great way to see how mainstream media directly affects our lives is understanding the White House Briefing Room seating arrangements. Depending on the political affiliation of the person sitting in the Oval Office, different news outlets are given seats in the briefing room, affecting what media is spread on what channels.

Alternative Media

Alternative Media is essentially the opposite of mainstream media. This type of media is not corporate-owned or profit-oriented, avoiding any potential conflict of interest. People can share whatever information they would like others to know without worrying about stating their true opinion. Alternate Media ranges from rational, well-researched publications to videos from people such as Alex Jones, a Youtuber and conspiracy theorist.

Citizen Journalism

Citizen Journalism is an opportunity for individuals to share their opinions and perspectives. This type of journalism is defined as "the collection, dissemination, and analysis of news and information by the general public, especially by means of internet. Citizen Journalism is much more accessible in the present day, especially due to the increased use of social media, but through this process we cannot control “fake news” that may be shared by individuals.

Echo Chamber

The echo chamber is the idea that the same concepts are being “echoed” throughout multiple outlets; therefore, people only look at sources that reflect their pre-decided viewpoint. This concept is often, but not always, at work in the political world, and issue arises when people close their mindset to others. The goal to combat this issue is to "find a balance between like-mindedness and open-mindedness."

Whistleblower

A whistleblower is someone who exposes corruption in an organization with the hopes of the issue being resolved. An important landmark surrounding this concept is the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, which protects those who expose ethical issues within their company or organization.

Reliable Sources

In order to determine if a source is or is not reliable, one should consider what that particular site considers news, how they fact check the claims that they make, and if a political bias is present. We have to remember, as both media consumers and media producers, that the job of a news site is not to confirm a bias or give entertainment, but to report the facts. A few suggestions to ensure that you are getting reliable information are to diversify your news sources and to be critical readers.

That's all for now!