Internet journalism takes on Washington - and shows its power
March 21st, 2007
It is an old Washington technique to distract attention from a breaking story by dumping huge amounts of documents on the media at awkard times, hoping journalists would drown in it, and miss the story. But the work of a website, which got dozens of people spread across the country to read and analyse a set of documents, meant that such a move backfired on the Bush White House.
As the story broke around the Administration firing a group of attorneys-general for dubious reasons, they released late at night 3000 pages of emails, memos and other documents. Most ordinary journalists would not be able to cope, might be distracted from chasing the main story.
In stepped a blog called tpmmuckraker.com, which scanned and posted the documentation and called on their readers to tackle them. Within half an hour, there were 5o summaries and commentaries posted on the material. And they kept on coming.
It was a critical moment for citizen journalism - the move to use the web to enable ordinary citizens to participate as journalists - and once again showed the power of the Internet to mobilise people to scrutinise those in authority and power, and to contribute to journalism.
A full story and analysis can be found on the Media Channel. Since they have it first-hand, let me hand you over to them.
Entry Filed under: Anton Harber, Journalism, Online
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