Alternative Media

So why do we need an alternative media?

The simple answer is that even though everyone has an opinion, in the mainstream media we only hear about 10% of them. By and large, the voices we are hearing in our newspapers, on our television shows, and on our radio programmes are the voices of businesses, government and well-educated journalists.

And yet we depend on the media to let us know what is going on the in world; we depend on it to help us figure out what to think about things, and what to do about things, from terrorism to congestion charges. But the small percentage of the population that control the flow of this information, who inevitably carry their own biases and agendas, are not representative of the opinions, criticisms, celebrations, and experiences of the vast majority of the population. Are you really willing to sit back and let them tell you how the world is?

The internet has created a space that is truly democratic. Anyone can have a space on the web, and use it to broadcast their views, share their experiences, and ask their questions, and they will have access to exactly the same people that the big companies and governments have.

This opportunity is unique in history, and it is questionable how long this gift will last (have a look at Students for Free Culture). Use it while you can.

If people want to live in a world in which they feel represented, in which they feel they have a voice, and some degree of influence in the decisions that affect them, then they have to step up and get involved. Don’t wait for someone with ‘authority’ and money and expensive equipment to decide that your story is newsworthy – make a film, record a podcast, write a blog and TELL them – and the rest of the world – that it is. Your voice is important – let it be heard!