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Citizen journalists for the win

Social media 1, mainstream media 0

That's the way the score turned out in Southport UK the other day, when the public squared off against police near a Mosque and violence ensued.

In realtime, I watched events unfold on YouTube, thanks to the legions of "citizen journalists" who livestreamed the incident to the world.

The mainstream media were completely missing in action.

While I watched the demonstration turn from a peaceful protest into a violent battle, there was no sign of any reports on the BBC or other UK-based news services. It was somewhat eerie that such a significant event was almost being totally ignored by the news organisations that the vast majority of people rely on to be objectively informed about events in the world around them.

Was this a media conspiracy to suppress the facts or was it simply more gross incompetence and lack of journalistic integrity?

I won't be drawn on the answer to that question but I think most people will form their own opinions.

If you want a first-hand report, the stuff we saw unfolding as it happened, then this video is well worth a watch:

As you can see, this guy was right in the thick of it and got some pretty amazing footage, including drone shots, that I have not seen matched by the MSM in any way. It seems that the MSM simply turned up after the fact and posted some very left-leaning analysis and images that really didn't come close to showing what actually happened.

When you compare the two levels of coverage, the contrast between "citizen journalism" and the MSM is thrown into sharp relief.

It becomes much easier to see why the MSM is finding it hard to turn a profit and having to, instead, resort to becoming just a publisher of press releases as it chases every penny it can without any consideration of the principles of the Fourth Estate.

For proof of that bold statement, just watch this insightful ABC video report:

In the Southport riot incident, the MSM is quick to paint a picture of violent far-right gangs, something that is probably driven by an overall left-leaning agenda within the ranks of this industry. The citizen journalist, by comparison, remained impartial and simply delivered first-hand footage without trying to add his own bias or prejudices to what you saw.

I'm pretty sure we'll see a lot more of this "raw" journalism from people with cellphones and social media accounts so the MSM should be increasingly worried that because they've sold out to commercial and political interests, their future is far from assured.

Let me make a bold prediction here...

Within a few short years a different type of news network will appear and become dominant.

It will consist of legions of citizen journalists who freely contribute their material to the network. Editors and sub-editors will then curate these reports, probably assisted by a good amount of AI. Consumers of news will then be able to access a massive swathe of raw reporting as well as some very useful summaries -- all carefully targeted to their own interests and concerns.

The traditional MSM has signed its own death warrant, a new format will rise and offer consumers a wide ranging choice: from fast-food news to raw, in depth coverage created by their peers.

Gosh darn it, I feel so compelled to help create this new entity.

Carpe Diem folks!

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