Corruption is not simply bred in D.C., as many in the public may think. Politicians have to start somewhere. They master their dishonest tendencies behind closed-doors in the state legislature or local village hall.
Such conduct acts as plague on the public well-being. The cure rests with a reinvigorated press corps.
Yes, that is exactly what is needed to ensure, for example, that Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish does not use tax dollars to buy Christmas Cards, chauffeurs and campaign favors. But where is this new spirit–not to mention news story–coming from. The AP? No, the story came from a citizen reporter in New Mexico.
The reanimation of journalism will be found in new online news ventures, rather than traditional newsrooms.
The blogosphere is no longer the realm of ranters and ideologues. Increasingly, straight shooting-journalists are leaving the newsroom and joining–and in some cases starting–online news ventures. We would know–we work with some of the best.
A series of state-based watchdog groups have demonstrated that online news web sites can churn out investigative pieces, instead of the usual punditry. And that is where we will truly begin to see a return to the successful beat reporter of yesteryear. Over the past two months, government watchdog across the country have turned the focus back to local issues and the readers that they serve are better off as a result.
Without dedicated state-based newsman like Joe Jordan, would Nebraska residents have discovered that their state’s educators were using taxpayer-funded credit cards to purchase Ninetendo Wii’s and $700 picture frames? Probably not.
Voter fraud does not take a break during minor campaigns. In fact, it probably makes for a good time for trial-and-error experimentation; say, paying students $5 for the votes of their friends. Luckily for residents in Ohio, a watchdog reporter was able to publicize this effort, inspiring the Athens County District Attorney’s office to investigate.
Such journalism is not just fulfilling the role of small-market media. In some cases, it is drawing audiences away from traditional media outlets. That much can be expected. Because the News, not just news stories, is now online. The three elements necessary to journalism have all gone digital. Producers, consumers and even the very sources of the News are online and things could not be more different–or better.
There are plenty in the political class that turn to new media as a more authentic and enjoyable outlet for political insight. This was evident during the 2009 election when D.C. insiders renounced broadcast election coverage and logged onto twitter to get the returns.
Many self-described political junkies took umbrage to the lack of familiarity that many cable pundits exhibited towards the specific races:
[Republican consultant Mike] Murphy, who ran two successful campaigns in New Jersey, [thought] election night pundits were only offering platitudes when it came to the Garden State. So he turned to Twitter.
Advocates on the left also blasted the election night pundits as unfamiliar with the races, expressing disappointment with CNN‘s use of Ben Stein, James Carville and former Minnesota governor Jesse “The Mind” Ventura.
Markos Moulitsas, founder of DailyKos.com, said in an email that…“The guests, on the other hand, were atrocious…local political experts in those states…could’ve provided better information than guests more skilled at providing warmed-over partisan talking points than insightful color and analysis.”
Politicians are also increasingly relying on 21st Century word of mouth to attract public attention, rather than the traditional press release. These politicians have embraced social networking sites and blogs, in order to deliver their message directly to their constituents.
“[Social media] allows me to gives my thoughts on the events of the day and the complete text of my comments from speeches and stuff that I give that the mainstream media might not normally cover,” said Francis Slay, the mayor of St. Louis.
And it is not just local politicians going outside of the press corps. Sarah Palin and the Democratic National Committee have taken the healthcare debate outside of townhalls and straight onto Facebook, where mudslinging will no doubt evolve into poke-wars.
New media has been gaining traction against traditional means of news gathering at all levels. Producers, consumers and sources are increasingly turning to the open channels of communication that new media offer, in order to get their message out there. These trends are only gaining traction.
Benjamin Franklin, a printer by trade, once said that “a newspaper in every home” was the “principle support of…morality” in civic life. The rapid decline of the American newspaper today might sadden Mr. Franklin, if it were not for one simple fact: there are more than 220 million personal computers in a country of about 300 million people
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