Kanye West & Media 2.0
I wrote a quick letter to the editor in response to Eugene Robinson's article about Kanye West. I wanted to share a bit of the process as I thought it served to highlight the delta between traditional media and peer-to-peer or participatory media--Media 2.0.
It started with Robinson’s column that proposed Kanye West was denied the Grammy for Album of the Year because he was “uppity”. I suggested that Robinson’s piece was conveniently one-sided—that there are lots of reasons to not like Kanye West, none of them having to do with his “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” comments. I ended the letter by suggesting that Robinson’s defense of West, specifically his inappropriate use of the racially-loaded and incendiary term “uppity” was an example of the same type of myopic, entitled attitude that’s gotten West into trouble previously.
But that part was cut and the rest was edited, though it didn't change the note materially. As a matter of fact, the editor also caught two minor but embarrassing mistakes, improved the editorial quality of letter, and captured the essence of what I wrote.
- But only because of one person’s whim…
- And as a result of a collaboration between two people who aren’t peers…
- Presented with no transparency into the process...
- One week after Robinson’s piece ran…
- And it’s an edited version of what I wrote.
On sites like BRO, anyone can engage anyone else (with only a few exceptions). And writers, whether they’re official contributors or commenters are regularly required to defend, clarify or, sometimes, modify their positions. The tools of Media 2.0 recognize that ideas aren’t complete until they’re tested and exposed to other ideas and new information. Media 2.0 sees the news as a conversation not a lecture, as participatory with everyone being accountable for what they think and say…in real time.
If I had encountered Robinson’s piece on a blog, I would have been able to engage him the way I wanted to, without an editor as an intermediary. He may have even been compelled to defend what he wrote. And I would have been called out for not knowing that Kanye acted up at the 2004 American Music Awards instead of in 2005 and for being unaware that “You’re My Type” was only released as a single and not a track on Late Registration. And other commenters could have added their thoughts to the discussion and everyone reading would have benefited in some way from the exchange.
News is becoming a dialogue among a flat, networked audience accountable to each other for the information they present and their own ideas. Media 2.0 is ascendant because it uses technology toward a very simple end—to engage a community in conversation.
Et voila!
Thanx, Fig, for yet another insightful & succinct take on the modern world & the modern media.
Excellent exposure on how the dinosaur-like editor/gatekeeper model of Media 1.0 is undemocratic in comparison to what technology has to offer now.
This is what makes BRO function so we, ass a sort of townhall forum (wtih the town criers and all).
yo figgy- hi! I just read this piece and I wanted to know if you caught the look on Kanye's face- right after he did not win the big prize?
I winced. And then Bono makes that priceless comment to him- as if Kanye were really some poor kid without his milk and cookies? Seriously, I am glad that broke broke homeboy did not win- his ego needs to deflate a little. (even though I like his homeboy beats) blammm
thanks for keeping it cool and for sharing!
I like the article, but have a problem with procedure.
Shouldn't this be listed under "trend" or "arts." I just don't see the connection to "city."
In Media 2.0 I guess its ok for me challenge the editor's judgement, no?
Hey Edward. We were actually trying to figure out where to put the piece and ultimately decided on City because there is a category here called media. And while the story began with an editorial about Kanye West in WaPo, I kinda used it as a launch pad to talk about the differences between the type of thing we do vs traditional media.
I totally get your point though. And I buy you're argument. But know that these types of pieces done with any frequency can get real tired real fast. We get that and don't plan on making it a habit. But we do want to break up the neighborhood and development stuff a bit with pieces still relevant to the category but about other things civic. We're still trying to find the right balance. Please bear with us. And keep giving us feedback. It's helpful and appreciated.