This document discusses the changing landscape of political journalism in the digital age. It notes that new forms of communication online were thought to provide new outlets to bypass traditional media, but in reality digital media can be more pernicious and less balanced. It examines how political journalism now works with power, media, and the public interconnected online. Key changes discussed include hypertextuality, interactivity, multi-mediality, and the abundance and diversity of information sources. The document questions whether these new forms of journalism can still fulfill the core functions of informing the public, fostering debate, and holding power to account.

1. Political journalism in the digital age
Charlie Beckett
MC417
November 2012
c.h.beckett@lse.ac.uk
@CharlieBeckett

2. • “…the joining of these two forces - the
information revolution and the human urge to cooperate for justice - makes possible for the first
time in history something we have only dreamt
about: the creation of a truly global society. A
global society where people anywhere and
everywhere can discover their shared values,
communicate with each other and do not need to
meet or live next door to each other to join
together with people in other countries in a
single moral universe to bring about change….”

3. Remaking the world with the Web?

4. Remaking the world with the Web?

5. • “It used to be thought – and I include myself
in this – that help was on the horizon. New
forms of communication would provide new
outlets to by-pass the increasingly shrill tenor
of traditional media. In fact, the new forms
can be even more pernicious, less balanced,
more intent on the latest conspiracy theory
multiplied by five”

6. • “It used to be thought – and I include myself
in this – that help was on the horizon. New
forms of communication would provide new
outlets to by-pass the increasingly shrill tenor
of traditional media. In fact, the new forms
can be even more pernicious, less balanced,
more intent on the latest conspiracy theory
multiplied by five”
• Tony Blair Reuters ‘feral beasts’ speech 2007

7. How (analogue age) political
journalism worked
Power
Media
Public

8. How networked political journalism
works
Power
Media
Public

9. What changed?
Old to New News Media
Crude technology – Infinite technology
Top down – consumer led
Deadlines – 24/7
Barriers to entry – easy access
Unreactive - Interactive
Expensive - Cheap
Single platform – Multi Platform
Scarcity - abundance
Profitable – Free

10. Networked Journalism

11. What changed?
• Hypertextuality - connectivity
• Interactivity & participation
• Multi-mediality & diversity

14. The song

17. • In a world where humour can be more
effective than reason, where does that leave
the idea of an informed society?
• In world where satire can be more effective
than debate, where does that leave the idea
of deliberation?

18. What happens to these core
functions of political journalism?
• To inform
• To foster debate
• To present a critique and hold
power to account

20. The 47% video: citizen plus reporter

21. The 47% make the news

22. Nate Silver – a journalist who isn’t a
journalist

23. Non MSM Fora

24. non-political political fora

25. Non MSM Watchdog

26. What difference?
•
•
•
•
•
More informed?
More accountable?
More open debate?
More democratic media?
More democratic politics?

27. The real crisis is not authority but
attention
•
•
•
•
Trust – transparency - accountability
Value – verification – utility
Relevance – proximity – diversity
Empowerment – investigative, disruptive,
critical, reflexive, open