We the People - We Participate

"Democratize Television: The Politics of Participation" Henry Jenkins

Key Points from text:

Current, a tv station founded by prior VP Gore in which the viewers would supply most of the content that would be aired on TV. Gore's belief was that a channel like this would "diversify civic discourse" allowing for many different views to be expressed and explored.

Many questions arose in regards to this new channel such as - what would be the focus of the station? would it be to further the democratic process or would the focus be on more capitalist foundation such as making money via shareholders, advertisers, etc.: "any truly democratic form of broadcasting would necessarily arise outside corporate media and would likely see corporate America as it's primary target for reform," (Jenkins, 250) not exactly what Gore was trying to promote by creating this channel. Another issue is the where the content will come from... if it comes strictly from viewers then the channel would just be "a glorified public access station."

BBC had decided to also place focus on the online content and how consumers relate to these forms of media. Where Current would focus on incorporating the content from the web into a broadcast media in which the consumers create their own content. The BBC's focus was on allowing more participation from avenues that were shaping digital culture.  Even though their approaches and ideologies maybe different, each was working with the idea of the convergence in media. "Convergence represents a paradigm shift  - a move from medium-specific content toward content that flows across multiple media channels" (Jenkins, 252) but while current, BBC, and others may say they are "democratizing television" they aren't really; the focus is on how to use these new forms of media in new ways to create more revenue.

No matter what the incentive it is clear that media industries have to embrace participation from their consumers via online media. The reason why TV needs to change is that it is losing it's consumer base of 18-34 year old because they choose more diverse avenues in which to get their content out to consumers. "With the aid of Internet, the loftiest dream for television has been realized: an odd brand of interactivity. Television began as a one-way street winding from producers to consumer, but that street is now becoming two-way." (Marshall Sella NY Times, 254).

This book shows different ways media (TV, Internet, smart phones, etc) have allowed for a convergence in participation to happen. But with any new concept there are reforms that need to be made in order for the concept to work fully. In this case, participation needs to be reformed in order to allow diversity which in today's consumer culture will lead to companies no longer being able to ignore consumer - which limits participation. Jenkins brings up 5 key fighting points to protect participatory action within media:
     1. Corporate copyright regime
     2. Censorship and moral panic over what is being created.
     3. Publicize best practices of online communities
     4 Expand access so more participation from fringe groups.
     5. Development of media literacy.

What will motivate consumer-based participation will be shared interests. In order to do this the marketplace must change and work with convergence media in order to put pressure on companies to hear our voices, allowing for consumers to participate in what is altered, kept, done away with, etc. In the media of TV this can be seen by the grassroots campaigns to keep cancelled TV shows like Arrested Development and Family Guy (which was put back on the air due to online pressure of consumers of FOX TV). Another example is how consumers no longer have to wait in order to purchase content like TV shows on DVD. Now consumers can go online download or watch instantly content or consumers can purchase instant media that would normally not be played on mainstream TV.

Media allows for more participation which supports our democratic urges (Jenkins, 257), therefore it is an important tool that can not be downplayed. Jenkins states 'Consumers will be more powerful within convergence culture - but only if they recognize and use that power as both consumers and citizens, as full participants in our culture" (257).