With the rise of web 2.0 came the need to create a personal image or a personal brand.
Since success is measured in the number of followers on Twitter or the number of friends on Facebook, it has become very important to have a distinct personality or controversial opinions to break through the digital wall.
Reality tv is an excellent media for broadcasting an exaggerated image of the people involved by creating a media personality. Paris Hilton or Nicole Ritchie are excellent examples of people that have created an image that is so entertaining, appealing or controversial that they have become famous for their, hopefully, exaggerated alter egos. The outrageous personalities who are the driving forces of reality tv raise the question: is reality tv reflective of reality? Does it give a fair and balanced representation of the characters of the people involved? These concerns can very well be transferred to online media. Are the online celebrities giving a fair and balanced account of the issues they are trying to raise attention to? Is controversy and biased views shortcuts to attention? Kevin Penny brings Fox News up in his blogpost about bias. Fox News is a news station that is infamous for its biased discussion and unjournalistic methods; however, it still has the most viewers in the states. Perhaps a biased and one-sided world simply easier to follow for the average viewer/reader?
Of course, new media can also be used for aspiring journalists to have their voices heard in a time where competition is only becoming fiercer; however, I think the discussion of a distinct online 'voice' is problematic when the most integral qualities of a journalist are fairness and objectivity. Perhaps the greatest challenge for citizen journalists or journalism students is to trust their own abilities, so they do not need to rely on fake eccentric personalities to become popular online.
Since success is measured in the number of followers on Twitter or the number of friends on Facebook, it has become very important to have a distinct personality or controversial opinions to break through the digital wall.
Reality tv is an excellent media for broadcasting an exaggerated image of the people involved by creating a media personality. Paris Hilton or Nicole Ritchie are excellent examples of people that have created an image that is so entertaining, appealing or controversial that they have become famous for their, hopefully, exaggerated alter egos. The outrageous personalities who are the driving forces of reality tv raise the question: is reality tv reflective of reality? Does it give a fair and balanced representation of the characters of the people involved? These concerns can very well be transferred to online media. Are the online celebrities giving a fair and balanced account of the issues they are trying to raise attention to? Is controversy and biased views shortcuts to attention? Kevin Penny brings Fox News up in his blogpost about bias. Fox News is a news station that is infamous for its biased discussion and unjournalistic methods; however, it still has the most viewers in the states. Perhaps a biased and one-sided world simply easier to follow for the average viewer/reader?
Of course, new media can also be used for aspiring journalists to have their voices heard in a time where competition is only becoming fiercer; however, I think the discussion of a distinct online 'voice' is problematic when the most integral qualities of a journalist are fairness and objectivity. Perhaps the greatest challenge for citizen journalists or journalism students is to trust their own abilities, so they do not need to rely on fake eccentric personalities to become popular online.
This blog provides tips to building a personal brand online.
Note: Image from usmagazine.com.
You bring up some very interesting ideas in this blog post. I especially like the point you make in your second paragraph:
ReplyDelete"Since success is measured in the number of followers on Twitter or the number of friends on Facebook, it has become very important to have a distinct personality or controversial opinions to break through the digital wall."
Although I do believe that reality T.V. is a good example to support this point, I wish you would have focused your argument more on journalism. I for one do not plan on becoming a reality T.V. star anytime soon, so I found that part hard to relate to. I like the approach you took in your final paragraph, and I wish your blog post would have reflected more of that angle as a whole.
I also found a sentence fragment at the beginning of your third paragraph:
"Reality tv is an excellent media for broadcasting an exaggerated image of the people involved, creating a media personality."
The second half ("creating a media personality") is not grammatically correct. I would try and rework this sentence.
Overall, really good job! I commend you for your unique point of view. It definitely caught my attention!
I completely agree with your statement, “Since success is measured in the number of followers on Twitter or the number of friends on Facebook, it has become very important to have a distinct personality or controversial opinions to break through the digital wall.” Unlike during the days of legacy journalism, when journalist didn’t really have to be concerned about building their own personal “brand”, journalist now have to know how to market themselves. No longer can a journalist just depend on the brand of the publication or company that they work for; they must attain and maintain a “following” of loyal readers by attracting readers and appealing to them through their “brand”.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your assertion that “…the discussion of a distinct online 'voice' is problematic when the most integral qualities of a journalist are fairness and objectivity.” The line between what’s personal and what’s professional can seem very grey; and it can be easily and unintentionally crossed because of the “personality” factor that now plays a role in a journalist’s success. It’s important to be mindful of where to draw that line.
Excellent blog post!