New Media's Future as History

Imagine getting into you car and plugging in a USB memory-stick or tuning in to a streaming podcast of news concerning your child's school. Perhaps, something strikes you as interesting as you pull into a parking lot before work.

You have a few minutes before a meeting. So, you turn on your portable computer and follow-up on the story. At that moment the reporter happens to be online so you IM him a question. A minute later he responds and can tell you a few links that has that information but doesn't know personally. You save the message for later.

A couple of days later, right before bed, you read a story or few links or heated discussions on the topic or watch an archived video podcast of the last PTA meeting.

This person writes his opinion backed up by some facts thet they found in a different field that's relevant, like psychology.

A week later a person emails him some comments about the posting. They dialogue about it either in private or public. Then they reach both gain some insight to the another perspective.

Perhaps on other days the person tuned into national politics, international news, the on-going war or some other topic that generally has a beat or an editor.

This might be a way people use media.

There would be stories written from professional reporters as well as students, parents, teachers, principals and others. Stories on a particular or related topic that gives multiple perspectives.

A person that hosts a live video news show once a day on local education. A chat room to discuss with other readers real time on the important issue for the nest school board election. Links to official government documents about spending and law. And these documents would have analysis from different sources. A discussion board on all topics.

The one way broadcast of news from the rich and powerfull is ending. You Tube and My Space might later be We Tube and Our Space. It also might compel the government to have more openness in their records by developing a culture that demands online twenty-four hour access.

Now we save all this stuff and it now becomes a first draft of history. A more detailed and inclusive account that the future can use. The archiving of this data is invaluable to future generations.

The news as well as history can now be written by everyone not just the winners.