I've been looking for an anology to explain to people who don't seem to get it the importance of Podcasts and Vidcasts. I think that I've found one that works. During the 1970s street kids in cities like London, New York and Los Angeles rejected what was being offered to them by society and by the mass media. The found the music of the day overly produced, excessively packaged and lacking in substance (even if many of them couldn't articulate it in this way and used terms like 'bullocks' instead.) So, the kids created their own form.
The media critics scoffed, derided and dismissed it. From their point of view there was no relevance. The level of talent varied wildly, some of the performers didn't even know how to play their instruments. But, punk happened anyway, and it changed everything and it's descendants continue to change everything. Music has never been the same, nor has any other medium and those who didn't catch on were quickly and in some cases permanently reduced to second class status or vanished altogether.
There is not a direct link between punk and podcasting, it is not quite the same revolution but it has many of the same traits. The level of talent varies wildly, some of the performers do not know how to play their instruments (although with the technology available this is becoming less and less of a requirement.) The important thing is that now anyone with something to say can say it. Anyone, with little or no money or experience, can have their own radio station, syndicated column, or show (audio or video). Who they are doesn't matter, sure a lone individual with an idea and a computer in Thunder Bay, Ontario has a greater hill to climb than, say the CBC or Chum, but the number of individuals with an idea and a computer is so much greater than the number of established media outlets that traditional broadcasters do indeed need to worry about the new competition.
The new internet, with blogging, podcasting, vidcasting, internet radio etc., will, change everything, forever and those that don't catch on, who choose to take the ostrich method and deny that it's happening because it's uncomfortable for them will quickly and in some cases permanently be reduced to second class status or vanish altogether.
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2 comments:
I agree with this 1000 per cent! It also can "democratize" the mainstream media and the way it interfaces (or fails to) with listeners/viewers. Now audience/participants seize control, or a portion of it, like all good revolutionaries have over the ages.
"Fortress newsroom" will be gone, or altered, forever, and I think mainstream reporters will have to lower their barriers and open up their story-making process to stay relevant.
Jane Davidson
Interesting comparison, Justin. And you touch on one striking similarity: the spirit behind change, that it will happen whether the old guard likes it or not.
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