Is Wikipedia the New Town Hall?

By Patricia Aufderheide

Public broadcasting everywhere is in crisis, and in part it's because technology seems to be turning pubcasters into dinosaurs. In fact, not just them, but all broadcasters. Consider the business leaders: NBC formally declared itself an "Internet company" and is slashing its analog TV investments. [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

     Page 1 of 1 pages

    This article proves the point that when individuals are in control, you have a better product, better choices are made.  Individuals check and balance each other, just on Wikipedia.  Incidentally, WP is my first choice when I must know something and is a great site, providing sources, noting when sourcing is needed, and providing external links.

    And FINALLY we see some mention at ITT that diversity in opinion and ability is of value.  The Internet can truly blind us to the race/religion/gender/orientation, etc., of the person on the other end.  It strips us down to what is the most valuable for human growth:  our ideas.

    United States Posted by inotwe on Mar 12, 2007 at 9:52 AM

    I agree with your general philosophy but not on Wikipedia, any idiot can and does post there, the entry on David Irving was a travesty and this is not an isolated example. The web is not a substitute for BOOKS. Links
    are not a substitute for life.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Mar 12, 2007 at 2:16 PM

    Well who said substitute, blondmike? (who I almost always agree with, by the way).  WP is just another source.  I’m a book maniac, and books aren’t always right, either.  It’s all about multiple sources, which is why I (a libertarian) check out this site every day, and listen to NPR’s Morning Addition, then Boortz, then Rush, then NPR’s All Things Considered.  To keep my mind open and make sure my brain gets nutrition from a variety of sources, to make sure I’m taking in a variety of sources.

    United States Posted by inotwe on Mar 13, 2007 at 5:52 AM

    Ok, I guess our disagreement was more apparent than real. You seem like a highly intelligent person.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Mar 13, 2007 at 8:37 AM

    don’t mock me.

    United States Posted by inotwe on Mar 13, 2007 at 9:27 AM

    I wasn’t. Sorry if it came across that way. We have no quarrel.

    United States Posted by blondemike on Mar 13, 2007 at 10:39 AM

    The blogocracy is in some ways the ideal of communism but it still is ideology based on the philosophy of the people wealthy enough to own a line on the Internet. But every Email address becomes a vote or say and the monkey with the most addresses can sound like the majority of opinion or just jam the lines with monkey business. But there is no doubt about it, as more log on more tune off. And we find a primordial stew of instant commentary.

    Japan Posted by glenglish on Mar 14, 2007 at 6:27 PM
     Page 1 of 1 pages

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