Paper proposal
In my paper for the course, I plan to examine the ways in which the Internet is or is not a sufficient organizing tool for social movements. I will outline ways that the Internet has been used for organizing and public education, focusing specifically on the media reform movement and the work of organizations like Free Press. I will attempt to argue that, although these organizations have made substantial efforts to educate the public on various media topics, organizing over the Internet causes their messages to target only an elite, niche population without reaching a truly diverse, nationwide audience. Free Press has worked hard over the last decade to formulate research, develop connections with policymakers, and organize public interest lobbying efforts in Congress, but their outreach efforts have been largely limited to the Internet without sufficient regard to the substantial impact of the digital divide that keeps certain portions of the population from learning about media issues.
I will relate Yochai Benkler’s The Wealth of Networks to my argument by pointing out that although, as Benkler argues, the Internet has great potential for greater diversity in access to media production and information exchange, those not involved extensively in the new, virtual culture of the Internet and the blogosphere have a limited ability to benefit from the possibilities of democracy that the Internet has to offer. I argue that Benkler overestimates the uniting power of the Internet; in fact, it may be dangerous to take such a hopeful and optimistic view of the Internet without remembering that some portions of the public do not have the ability to partake in Internet usage. Such assumptions leave behind those without access to the Internet, effectively deepening the digital divide and hindering the possibility for a large-scale grassroots media reform movement that is representative of all populations. Grassroots campaigns using Internet-based outreach alone distance certain parts of the public instead of requesting their input about media issues they believe require attention, and limits their agency to create and operate media outlets of their own and to organize locally.
As such, the outline of my paper, as it stands now, will be as follows:
• A thesis that explains the shortcomings of the Internet as a sole organizing tool in engaging portions of ce public without access to the Internet into debates on media issues.
• A study of the media reform movement as a social movement, with a review of major Internet outreach efforts such as the push to reinstate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2005 and the recent campaign for network neutrality, and methods through which the Internet has been used in outreach during these campaigns.
• A look at records of public involvement, such as public comments filed to Congress and the Federal Communications Commission, as well as at studies on what portions of the population use the Internet in general, to learn as much as possible about the demographics of people motivated to get involved.
• An examination of websites and blogs that discuss media policy and media justice issues on a frequent basis to establish spheres in which discussions about these topics take place.
• An introduction to Benkler’s argument, stating its main points and strengths and incorporating them to acknowledge the accomplishments of Free Press’ Internet outreach work.
• An attempt to point out the digital divide that is limiting the strengths of Benkler’s argument since it neglects to mention that portions of the population cannot engage in Internet use.
• A conclusion emphasizing the importance of local, community-based outreach that gives agency to all portions of the population for participation in the media reform movement.
Rather than disparaging the work of media reform and media justice organizations, who promote issues of immense importance to our nation’s democracy, my paper will attempt to suggest ways that outreach efforts could be improved to educate and empower all communities. Although Internet-based campaigns have been a successful start, locally organized outreach is essential for a nationwide media reform movement.