Uploading Dissonance
Overview• YouTube and the US occupation of Iraq –
Christenseno Propaganda vs. public diplomacyo Noopolitik
• Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of Media Democracy – Nemanico Grassroots journalism o Media democracy—does it exist?
• Examples• Questions/Areas of exploration
Christensen: YouTube and the US Occupation of Iraq• MNFIRAQ – what is
it?o YouTube channel by US
Defense Departmento “boots on ground
perspective”
3 Types of Videos
oStreet fightingoSurgical warfare oGood deeds
Steetfighting
Surgical Warfare
“Good Deeds”
Good deeds? – Opposing Content
Good deeds? – Apache Kills
Traditional Propaganda
Propaganda vs. public diplomacy
• Propagandistic Dissonance• Realpolitik and noopolitik• What we see here is noopolitik—
o Control over thoughto “deliberate, regulated decontrolo Noopolitik may ultimately be about whose
story wins 159
In what other ways are we exposed to “noopolitik” propaganda?
Magazines and Advertising
• For corporate gain oWe’re more sensitive to
government propaganda but advertising is just as prominent
• Bernays—propaganda vs. public relations, sound familiar?
“Must-haves”, “Perfect dresses” etc
VS
Media dissonance
Media myths: Good Girl vs. Bad Girl
VS
Militainment
TV Shows• Glorified view of government organizations
• “But in the war over public opinion, video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Google video have, it appears, begun to restructure the balance of story-telling power”o Christensen 173
Has it really?
“Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of the Media
Democracy”
Question for the class
Is photojournalism dead?
Yes?Because:• Professional photojournalists push corporate
agenda• Biased• Fake/staged images
But Nemanic says No…
• Digital Divide• Photojournalism requires education, talent,
experience• Professional images= superior quality• Photojournalist more willing to take risks for
greater images• Civilian journalism is short lived—edges on
sensationalism
G20 – citizen perspective
G20 – CTV perspective
• Grass roots – “ involving the common people”o Princeton Wordnet
• Media democracyo global social movement developed to open up mass media to a range
of ideas and diverse voices that are repressed through media ownership
o But these are two separate things!
• Idea of authenticity
Occupy Wall Street
Are these images more authentic than…
Culture and Citizen Journalism
• Audience appropriation and modification of media texts
• John Fiske culture—“an active process of generating and circulating meanings and pleasures within the social system”
• Audience interests are short lived
Discussion: Is this citizen journalism?
Bed Intruder- original news report
Bed Intruder Song – audience appropriation
Media democracy?
Media democracy?
Censorship?
Further questions
• Do you agree with Nemanic?• Can citizen and professional journalists work
together?• How does/can one complement the other?
• Final conclusions?