The democratisation of media continues apace:
Since CNN embraced the citizen journalist movement in August 2006 with the launch of its iReport initiative, the news organization has received nearly 100,000 news-related photos and videos from viewers.
Yet fewer than 10% of those submissions have appeared on CNN.com or the cable channel.
That’s all about to change. CNN this week will enter YouTube territory with iReport.com, a new site built entirely on user-produced news. And unlike CNN’s own properties — where only iReport submissions that have been handpicked by editors and checked for accuracy ever make it online or on air — the new site will be wide open, allowing users to post whatever content they choose, CNN said.
On the other side of the internet, what happens when an aging war criminal (Henry Kissinger) gets together with a new breed of wannabes?
It was a bit like the great-grandson having a party for the patriarch. On Monday night, the six-year-old conservative blog Power Line gathered a group of luminaries — including Henry A. Kissinger, William Kristol and Paul D. Wolfowitz (with his companion, Shaha Ali Riza, in tow) — to honor Norman Podhoretz with a book award.
It was the kind of crowd that applauds when a speaker calls for military action against Iran. Some other highlights: There were calls to fight “Islamofascism” and praise for John McCain’s stance on the Iraq war. Mr. Podhoretz predicted that George W. Bush’s presidency would one day be held in the same high esteem as Harry S. Truman’s. Mr. Kissinger, perhaps in deference to his hosts, discussed digital media for a bit but admitted he didn’t know what a blog was.
It must have been quite a night to remember, celebrating endless war, calling for more bombing, torture and US hegemony. After all, neo-conservatives just can’t resist some water-boarding after dinner.
That is really sick. Wolfowitz was the #1 supporter of the Fadhil brothers, whose IRaq The Model blog was quoted by Bush to prove that the Surge was working. The Fadhils met in person with Bush and Wolfowitz in the oval office in 2004.
Now the Fadhils are living in the USA and studying at major universities, after bing granted precious refugee visas from Iraq.
Personally, Antony, I can see a very interesting media story there… for some intrepid young journalist who chooses to write it. It’s all on my blog - please email me at gazo@dodo.com.au if you are interested.