SuperMedia (eBook)

Charlie Beckett is the founding Director of POLIS, the forum for research and debate into journalism and society at the London School of Economics. He has worked for some of the best news and current affairs programs at the BBC and Channel 4 News. He currently writes and broadcasts internationally about global journalism while also teaching and researching at the LSE and the University of the Arts of London.

List of Figures.

Foreword.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: "TheDailyPlanet.com": Why We Must Save Journalism
So that Journalism Can Save the World.

1. "Help! Help! Who Will Save Us?": The New Media Landscape.

2. "Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane? No! It's SuperMedia!":
Networked Journalism.

3. "Will Nobody Do Anything to Help?": Networked Journalism and
Politics.

4. Fighting Evil: Terror, Community, and Networked
Journalism.

5. We Can All be Super Heroes: Networked Journalism in Action:
Editorial Diversity and Media Literacy.

Suggested Reading.

Index.

Beckett (London School of Economics) sees the growth of new media
and technologies as an opportunity for, rather than a threat to,
the traditional practices of journalism. However, he observes,
those practices will need to change and adjust to take advantage of
the opportunities offered by what he calls networking journalism.
He believes that the many sources and voices competing,
particularly on the Web, can and do produce better journalism in
traditional media as well as on the Web--a contention he
illustrates with case studies. Unfortunately, Beckett's idealism
does not address the major problem of false information that
infects the public sphere: as the 2008 presidential election
demonstrated, too many people repeated lies that they had "read
somewhere." Truth seldom travels as quickly as lies. What remains
in question is what would happen to thoughtful, investigative,
long-piece journalism in Beckett's scheme. The author provides
brief bibliographies for each of the five chapters and helpful
endnotes. Summing Up: Recommended. Professionals and general
readers. -- P. E. Kane, emeritus, SUNY College at
Brockport (Choice, February 2009)

"This is a strongly argued, well-sourced, knowledgeable piece of
work, informed by Beckett's time working on news and current
affairs programmes at both the BBC and Channel 4 television. It is
the most sustained and enthusiastic endorsement of citizen
journalism I have read, displaying a faith in the power of
journalism allied to that of an active citizenry." (Financial
Times)

"Consider this a hearty recommendation ... British broadcast
journalist Charlie Beckett stays on point in 170 pages of
well-reasoned argument about exactly how journalism has already
changed - and how today's journalists and journalism
educators need to understand that so they can go forward, and not
sit inert as their world collapses on their heads ... It's a
positive book with clear, real-world examples from real journalism.
It does not waste words and it doesn't lose itself in
philosophical boilerplate. I think all journalists and journalism
educators should read this book." (Teaching Online
Journalism (blog))

"Charlie Beckett provides a serious but accessible introduction to
the challenges facing contemporary journalism, intellectually and
professionally. Presenting an argument for the importance of
journalism in society, whilst also recognising the impact of
business and technology on that contribution, Super Media
will be invaluable to media students wanting a cutting-edge survey
from an experienced and reflective practitioner."

-Adrian Monck, head of the Department of Journalism
and Publishing, City University, London

"The idea and practice of networked journalism needs this
thorough examination and this manifesto in its favor. And I second
Charlie Beckett's contention that we in the news business and in
society need networked journalism not just to protect but to expand
journalism's future."

-Jeff Jarvis, blogger and professor, CUNY Graduate
School of Journalism

"Charlie Beckett knows the business from the inside, and in
Super Media it shows. A powerful analysis of the great
challenges facing all of us, whether reporters readers, bloggers or
viewers. Read it, and act!"

-Jon Snow, Presenter, Channel 4 News

"This important book charts a course through journalism's
current crises of Trust, Economics and Technology and points to a
way of reconnecting with a broad social purpose."

-Richard Sambrook, BBC News