I believe that audiences empower new new/digital media to a great extent. As now they have the opportunity to voice their values and opinions through commenting on-line and citizen journalism. through on lune comments people have been able to freely say what they want, whereas before if someone had a problem with something they read on a newspaper, they would have to write in to the institution where there message may not even be ready and very little action would have been taken if their message was to be read. Whereas now people can comment on line which causes a domino effect and when people read a comment that they agree with, they also comment which can cause people and institutions to change. For example, the 'Dapper laughs' case, Daaper laughs is a 'Viner' and on line comedian, he made vines which were very sensitive, sexist and sometimes misogynistic. However over 60,000 people petitioned against him and he deleted all of his Vines and said that he would making them. This shows that when people have an issue with something or someone they can make a change, due to developments in media.
However some may argue that the thought of having power through media is actually an illusion. This can shown in a range of ways, for example yes we can post what we want to on line but there are still restrictions on line that are controlled by the elite groups, as they are the ones that choose what is shown and what isn't. For example on Facebook and and Twitter people can block and report content that they feel is inappropriate. This shows that having power is an illusion as social network sites are meant to be personal to people however as people can shut your profiles down without you knowing shows that we have no power at all.
Another prime example is the Ian Tomlinson case. This was when the G20 protest was taking place, Ian was walking home through the protest when a police officer attacked his leg and pushed Ian to the ground. Ian later that day while walking home collapsed and died. The case was only taken to court because someone in the crowd was filming, however even with hard video footage of what happened not much was done to the officer who pushed Ian, he was just sacked from his job. If the same thing was done by a citizen they would have been put in prison as they have primarily killed someone. However as the police are considered to be part of the elite groups, not a lot was done as they have more power. This again goes back to people having power being an illusion, as when the video footage was released it did have an impact, giving us the feeling of having power, but as not much was done about the situation shows we actually don't have a lot of power.
Looking a similar case from March 1991, when Rodney king was beaten very badly after a high speed chase. Officers chased King and his two friends for 18 miles before they were caught. Bryant Allen was manhandled, kicked, stomped, taunted and threatened. Freddie Helms was hit in the head while laying on the ground. His bloody baseball cap was turned over to police. Helms was treated for a laceration on the top of his head. King stayed in the car but then later came out, when exited the car he was told to put his hands on his head and lay on the ground, which he did. Two police officers then brutally beating King. This case was also taken to court because somebody had filmed what happened and aired it. However when no action was taken the first time for what happened to King the Los Angles riots broke out, which then lead to police finding two of the officers guilty and two of them were acquitted. This shows that through new/digital media people can have power and they can create change, but the elite groups also have a great deal of power over people. But due to the development in new/digital media the power that the audience posses is becoming much stronger as they are open to so much more.
However some may argue that the thought of having power through media is actually an illusion. This can shown in a range of ways, for example yes we can post what we want to on line but there are still restrictions on line that are controlled by the elite groups, as they are the ones that choose what is shown and what isn't. For example on Facebook and and Twitter people can block and report content that they feel is inappropriate. This shows that having power is an illusion as social network sites are meant to be personal to people however as people can shut your profiles down without you knowing shows that we have no power at all.
Another prime example is the Ian Tomlinson case. This was when the G20 protest was taking place, Ian was walking home through the protest when a police officer attacked his leg and pushed Ian to the ground. Ian later that day while walking home collapsed and died. The case was only taken to court because someone in the crowd was filming, however even with hard video footage of what happened not much was done to the officer who pushed Ian, he was just sacked from his job. If the same thing was done by a citizen they would have been put in prison as they have primarily killed someone. However as the police are considered to be part of the elite groups, not a lot was done as they have more power. This again goes back to people having power being an illusion, as when the video footage was released it did have an impact, giving us the feeling of having power, but as not much was done about the situation shows we actually don't have a lot of power.
Looking a similar case from March 1991, when Rodney king was beaten very badly after a high speed chase. Officers chased King and his two friends for 18 miles before they were caught. Bryant Allen was manhandled, kicked, stomped, taunted and threatened. Freddie Helms was hit in the head while laying on the ground. His bloody baseball cap was turned over to police. Helms was treated for a laceration on the top of his head. King stayed in the car but then later came out, when exited the car he was told to put his hands on his head and lay on the ground, which he did. Two police officers then brutally beating King. This case was also taken to court because somebody had filmed what happened and aired it. However when no action was taken the first time for what happened to King the Los Angles riots broke out, which then lead to police finding two of the officers guilty and two of them were acquitted. This shows that through new/digital media people can have power and they can create change, but the elite groups also have a great deal of power over people. But due to the development in new/digital media the power that the audience posses is becoming much stronger as they are open to so much more.
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