Book Review: We the Media
Published September 17, 2004
Wow. I'm just finishing Dan Gilmor's We the Media. It was published by O'Reilly Media in August of 2004.
If you have any interest in how the internet is changing journalism, and I bet you do since you're reading this on a blog, this book is a must read.
After giving you just enough history to inform you without being boring, Gillmor works his way through the bulk of this massive online phenomenon. He focuses on how Big Money media is being changed by the web community. In many places he shows the conflict between the two, but in many places he demonstrates the compatibility of the two.
In a well written insiders look at blogging, Gillmor only bogs down late in the book when he handles copywrite law, Big Media, and cyber-liberty. Lets face it, and this is coming from a lawyer, there are not a lot of interesting ways to write about these mundane, party-spoiling topics. My only other critical thought, and its hard to find any with this great book, is that I felt a little shorted in that I wanted more insight into the future. What's coming next? Where is all this going? He hit on these topics, but maybe it's a topic better suited for its own book. Or a blog. :>
Overall, outstanding book, written while this new medium is still fresh enough to expect Gillmor's book to soon be referred to as the seminal work on blogging.
- Book Review: We the Media
- Published: September 17, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Books: Computers and Internet
- Writer: FrankwMyers
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I'm nearly halfway finished with this book and I think it's one of the most well-written one on blogs and the changing face of media that I've read in the past three years. Definitely a keeper, as well as a prophet of times to come.
Dan Gillmor said what I feel. Great look at open-source living. I am pushing "We the Media" on all the forums I visit.
Whats next Dan?
I've only got through the introduction and already I'm concerned. To me it sounds like Rapunzel came down from the Ivory tower and discovered the regular folks actually have *opinions*. People have been having opinions on events for awhile now..maybe before the web even existed. Sure stuff travels faster, is that always a good thing? The Internet doesn't have built-in crap filters--more like crap amplifiers.
He seems to reserve the role of deep analysis and commentary for the professional journalist, leaving bloggers to their cut-n-paste punditry and fact checking chores.
I find his argument about journalism being hollowed out by the search for profits hollow, especially when he's made a living reporting on the ups and downs of Silicon Valley companies due to the same forces--companies far more worthy than the SJMN.
But if I'm this fired up at the intro, I can't wait to read the rest.
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Excellent point about the future happening in real time on blogs rather than books. Great to have you with us Frank, thanks!