Gillmor provides a model we all can benefit from

My takeaways from Dan Gillmor’s amazing presentation: A culmination of this entire experience, Gillmor aptly characterized the shifts not only in journalism, but in life.  This is the Information Age, and Gillmor demonstrated in so many ways exactly how that is.

First, it’s about access, not distribution – people seek out information in this digital age.  This is new – journalists are no longer gatekeepers.  In fact, they are merely opening a gate absent a fence – nothing is held in a anyway.

There is an endless supply but blurred lines, casting doubt about what is reputable.  My kids struggle with this.  The first hit on a Google search is not always (or ever) the best.

Journalism makes sense of issues, but really good blogs do that, too, so we need to be able to think critically about what we are ingesting.  Know our sources and scrutinize them for accuracy.

There’s no barrier to entry into journalism, which is tremendous!  A truly democratic, egalitarian state can only thrive when information is open to all.

We have enough supply, but demand? How do we know what we can trust in a world of unlimited information?

I will employ Gillmor’s principles for consumers of media:

·         Use media, don’t just consume it

·         Be skeptical about everything

·         Judgment – do not be equally skeptical about everything

·         Research – ask questions

·         Free thinking – go outside of your comfort zone in politics and culture; be relentless with yourself

·         Techniques

o   Create media

o   Understand how media persuade

Best of all:  “If we are not creators of media, we are not literate.”

Creators must employ thoroughness, accuracy, fairness, independence, transparency.

I wish someone like Gillmor could speak to secondary schools.  I had flashbacks during his talk about awful PowerPoint lessons we give during advisory about why students should be wary of the Internet and social media.  It goes over like a lead balloon.  Gillmor is more accessible and intelligent.

Hilari Anderson
Kentridge High School
Kent, Wash.