When citizen journalism captures the police behaving badly

July 31, 2008

There’s a remarkable story over at Journalism.co.uk. Click this link to learn more about a New York policeman’s seemingly unprovoked attack on a cyclist. While you’re marveling at the errant officer’s behaviour, ask yourself this: was this footage released on YouTube before it made it to conventional news media outlets?

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One Response to “When citizen journalism captures the police behaving badly”

Posted by:
Ana on July 31, 2008 at 11:50 am

Citizen footage is also playing a big role in countries where the media isn’t as free as the US – eg this story from Foreign Policy which concerns disputed areas in Israel/Palestine:

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/9392

I can’t help but think that while sources of media may be changing, we should keep a healthy skepticism of the ‘reality’ of user generated images and videos. After all, like in traditional media, someone has made editing choices and we don’t know what’s off the frame.

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Supreme Court on Twitter

February 6, 2012

Something remarkable happened today. Yes, the Supreme Court launched its Twitter feed. It even has a Twitter policy, one of caveats, disclaimers and little by way of illumination but regardless: who would have thought that the successor body to the House of Lords would stoop to engage with the world of tweets, hashtags and retweets?

We look forward to the day when court business will be conducted via Twitter. Meantime, check out this link for an excellent blog on the Supreme Court.

Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.