The other day I logged onto FB (Facebook), and saw an update from my friend saying, "RIP AM". I scrolled down and came across more messages of condolence. I then began researching. I logged onto http://perezhilton.com/ then checked out http://tmz.com/. I then checked out the DJ's last post on Twitter. Sure enough, I learned that DJ AM had passed away, the report was confirmed by the NY Police. The DJ was famous for his music as well as his love life (dating Nicole Ritchie and Mandy Moore). I had seen him play a couple of sets in Toronto and Las Vegas. The news was even more tragic since just last year DJ AM aka Adam Goldstein had survived a terrible plane crash.
It is interesting that because I wanted information so quickly I turned to the Internet to do research. Entertainment television shows would not air for hours, and blogs were appearing immediately. There are problems with social media and authenticity, in the case of DJ AM there have been numerous rumors surrounding his death popping up everywhere. Who can we trust on the Internet, and can we really trust traditional media more? Are we better off with alternative new media as opposed to traditional corporate run media? What do you think.
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This is interesting because reading your blog is how I found out about this news! Very tragic! But this also demonstrates your point about how instantly we receive news online, because I was out of town for a few days I never heard this and then it became "yesterday's news." I think the whole world had heard of Michael Jackson's death only a few hours after it happened. But then again, some online rumours spread like wildfire before the real truth comes out!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you mentioned Facebook here. I too heard of DJ AM's passing through a friend's Facebook status. I am not surprised that Kelly above also heard of this news right here on your blog Lauren! This is no coincidence at all! I wonder how old Kelly is? I know that I am 25 and most of my "friends" on Facebook are also around the 22-28 age range. I don't mean to insult anyone, including you Lauren and Kelly, but I feel that our generation is self-absorbed and lazy. We are self-absorbed because we use methods of communication like Facebook to tell our extended "friends" and network members what we are up to constantly. I am guilty of this too. We (meaning my generation) have a quite strange urge to tell the internet world what we are doing, where we are going, what we are wearing and what we are thinking at all moments of the day! This is bazaar when I really think about it. Come to think of it...who cares? Posting updated status changes on Facebook is our way of putting our thoughts out there. I am guilty of not turning on the radio and listening or turning on the television and watching for news. I turn to my Blackberry, which is usually within five inches of me, log on to Facebook with the push of four simple buttons, and voila - the news comes to me! How convenient for someone who belongs to a self-absorbed, lazy generation!!! Not bad!
ReplyDeleteSocial media is changing the way we all get our information.
ReplyDeletePeople say that we learn of news events faster now through social media than through traditional. It happens because people can update their facebooks and twitter accounts right from their phone in real-time while something is still happening. The "old" media waits to put together fancy articles that have complete pictures and proper format, where as a tweet is just a quick 140-character message that can be composed much faster.
A few weeks ago I woke up at 10am in Australia to see my friends online tweeting about a tornado that was hitting Toronto. I checked the local (from home) news websites, but they didn't have anything up until almost an hour later.
ps- I heard about DJ AM first on twitter
Yes, I too had to go and look for DJ AM's death on the Internet. I saw a brief headline on the news and waited and waited for the story. In the end I went and found it myself. Perhaps this is the beauty of the internet. It is an all available source at our fingertips. It is incredibly convenient. Apart from that I think when you are really interested in a story you are disappointed by the lack of detail in the traditional media. The internet allows for niche markets to have a voice.
ReplyDeleteSome very interesting feedback! I like getting news online, especially if it is a specialized story (GPO) or breaking news (like the tornado 40 deuce heard about). I also agree with Kelly that the timeline of news is so short with constant developments coming out by the minute online! Jessica I also agree that it is our generation who looks online for news and updates. I think it is a challenge for journalists to reach our target audience as well as older generations (ie. my parents) who have no interest in online headlines and prefer to receive news via traditional media.
ReplyDeleteNews online is a paradox, it can be instant, but it also gives anyone the ability to post (remember all the fake death celebrity rumors last year?). I guess we have to think about where out media comes from and examine out sources online and in traditional media!