Mediactive

by Dan Gillmor

We're in an age of information overload, and too much of what we watch, hear and read is mistaken, deceitful or even dangerous. Yet you and I can take control and make media serve us -- all of us -- by being active consumers and participants. Here's how. Published under a Creative Commons license.

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism, Technology, Social Media

204 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

How has media publication changed? How will it continue to change? As we move further into the digital age, we will be creators and producers of the news, rather than passive receivers. Gillmor offers many insights into media and journalism in an evolving climate from managing your online presence, to being a skeptical consumer of information, to trustworthy media/journalism and plenty of ideas and suggestions for improvement.

All of this begs the question, what are we teaching in schools in order to prepare our students to face the media of the future?

[James Cridland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (it's a free download from his website, though I bought the Kindle version from Amazon instead) is a good read - for people who work with the media, or people who consume it. Yes, it's full of "dur, I *know* that", but it also reminds you of things you knew but sometimes forget to do: just like some of the best books do.

Some of this is a little US-centric, but almost all of it is relevant to media consumers all over the world. If you consume any type of news media, you ought to read it. It spurred me on - among other things - to create http://www.tweetresponsibly.net which contains some of the same advice.

[CTEP]

For May's book club I read Mediactive by Dan Gilmour. The book is essentially broken up into two parts; the beginning acts as an informational argument about the state of journalism, particularly citizen journalism, and the end includes a guide to becoming a better news reader and how to be mindful of the media you create and promote. While I was reading this book, I was heavily reminded of the Corps Day that we had about the social media "tribes" and citizen journalism. Throughout the book, Gilmour includes links relaying back to the events, people, and news stories that he refers to. Gilmour is also incredibly transparent about his relationships with the journalists he writes about, which I believe is to his merit and if not increases his credibility, you have a higher will to decide to trust what he's stating.

Gilmour also uses the book as a guide to increase awareness and practice of quality citizen journalism, and includes a credibility scale to compare different sources against each either. The credibility scale is a great starting point to figure the credibility of your media consumption, and further how to become a better citizen journalist through increasing your credibility.

Gilmour wrote this book before the events of the Boston Marathon Bombing, an event I believe he would be incredibly interested in analyzing. During the Boston Marathon search for Tsarnaev, the Reddit community was up in arms about finding the bomber, and consequently found and blamed two innocent men using security camera and online phone camera footage. The sheer volume of Reddit's voice delayed the search and got the police to apprehend at least one of the suspects. The fact that mediocre citizen journalism delayed a police investigation is incredibly telling about the current stance of the justice system. However, if citizen journalism was as strong with Black Lives Matter than it was with the Boston Bombings, Darren Wilson would have been prosecuted. In another instance of strong citizen journalism, in 2014 Purdue University experienced a school shooting. My cousin, an undergrad at the time, found out about the shooting through twitter, and was able to get out of her building and to safety in time. There is definitely a merit to citizen journalism in the time of an emergency, something I don't think Gilmour credits. While Gilmour's argument to not trust the majority of citizen journalism is valid, I think there's an argument for continuing to share local news in an emergency. On that note, another concern of Gilmour's are "reliable" news sources 24-hour cycles, and lack of actual news. Related to that, Gilmour raises a very valid concern of "reliable" news sources depending on citizen journalism, and the effects of both relaying those stories and not compensating their informants. Both of which Gilmour fleshes out further in the first couple of chapters.

I found reading this book that I both agreed and practiced what Gilmour was preaching, so when I got to the chapters on resources I found it was more of a review. This book is an incredibly detailed collection of resources, and I would recommend it as reading for anyone interested in media consumption. I would also recommend this book, at least the first 2-3 chapters, as recommended reading for CTEP before the media tribes Corps Day, if that is to be repeated next year.

Links:
Mediactive Website
Mediactive Book
Overview of Reddit's involvement with the Boston Bombings
#BlackLivesMatter on Twitter
Black Lives Matter Website
Purdue Shooting

[Alida Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me a better understanding of today's media issues and the responsibility and opportunities I carry as a teacher. It feel good to have expert guidance and facts to reinforce the need for media skepticism, critical thinking, honor and transparency in regard to media consuming and creating.

The most important take away for me is: to be media literate is to be a critical thinker and a creator. This is what our students need to learn in school. There needs to be room to change thinking and get out of our media comfort zones.

[Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book does what it was intended to do; give a general overview of media literacy (particularly digital media) principles to the uninitiated. Gillmor writes with passion, and in the dynamic world of social media, most of this book remains relevant 10 years after it was written. That can be considered an accomplishment in itself.

[Tatiana Sheko · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book which works well as a reference book over time as well as a one-off read. Much to think about. I've enjoyed following Dan on social media and have participated in his online courses.

[Nurlan Imangaliyev · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for all journalists, media-activists, content creators or anyone with at least one account on any social network out there.

[Alejandro Teruel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first took Dan Gillmor´s 2015 edX MOOC course on Media Literacy (https://www.edx.org/course/media-lit-... ) and then read this book, even though the course recommended reading some chapters before dealing with some of the material.

I preferred the e-course (four stars) to the book -perhaps because I am not a journalist or a student of journalism- and found the e-course better structured and clearer, especially in the first sections of the course. Both the e-course and the book are full of excellent references, and it pays to take time to explore many of them.

Journalism is a field in turmoil as the old print-based business model draws to an end, good and bad citizen journalism confuse issues, all sorts of ethical problems -some hoary and some newish- crop up, key issues on net neutrality and freedom of expression flare up and the noise to news ratio soars through the ceiling. Gillmor tackles this changing "eco-system" and provides some common-sense principles, sound advice and useful tool recommendations.

Even though it may be obvious to you that you cannot believe everything you find on the net or catch on the news, in my opinion, this book will almost certainly provide you with some worthwhile tips that will make you a better media consumer and creator.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

As one of those who spend their lives immersed in the study and tools of media literacy, I found the book a little too simplistic, but it would serve as a good introduction on how to create and consume media for the citizen journalist or the student just starting out. There's some good material and several resources.

[Barry Eisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about what establishment journalism should, and what citizen journalism really is. Excellent for journalists, people who think they're journalists, people who want to be journalists, and for all consumers of news.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and somewhat chilling read on the current state of all things digital media. Gillmor discusses the need for all to be involved in what is going on with Copyright, social networking, net neutrality, and more.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class and didn't entirely dislike it. It was definitely bearable and very informative. While the author can be extreme at times, his views have definitely impacted the way I will view media and journalism in the future.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look at this as kind of a survival guide for life in the world of new media. Dan is a scholar at the Walter Cronkite School - where I work - and is highly respected as a top expert on the future of journalism.

[Measie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Matt Mena-landry]

Great Book. I didn't learn anything new, but I do like Dan quite a bit. His review of the current FCC Journalism report is great.

[Nike Andaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bagus, kita bisa tau seluk beluk media.
bacanya tiap perjalanan soalnya dari Kindle bacanya.

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with useful information and web links to follow. Very practical with regards to the use of all kinds of online tools, social networking sites etc