Following the last seminar, I began to consider the following question: does the use of such websites as www.indymedia.org encourage political participation and give a different angle to the way in which news is portrayed or is it simply an extension and new way of displaying current affairs? It is the first time we have seen such an opportunity for widespread independent media, but does this form of media really differ dramatically from more mainstream news outlets?
As described in the website itself, Indymedia is “… a collective of independent media organizations and hundreds of journalists offering grassroots, non-corporate coverage. Indymedia is a democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth.” Upon browsing this website, I have come to the conclusion that it does indeed offer non-corporate coverage of the news and it also gives news which would otherwise not be reported.
Whilst websites such as this one are written by independent journalists, free from pressure from employers and the political stance of the paper, I cannot see how these are able to encourage political participation. Yes it is true that those involved in the website and those aware of the website are more likely to share their views, but there is only a small number who is aware that a website such as this exists. When considering whether this new form of reporting the news gives a less biased view of the news, there can some argument to say that may not be the case. Yes it is true that this website is written from a less glamorized and less edited version of the news, it is still written (as all news is) with someone with an opinion and therefore cannot help but be swayed to a particular bias. It is often argued that the news can be described as a form of subtle propaganda, a website such as this could tend to be more so as those writing are more passionate about the subject they whereas those writing for papers are simply reporting the news. With all this said, I do not doubt that Indymedia gives an insight to the news that would not be heard otherwise and for this, I commend it.
