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The current protests taking place in central London ahead of the G20 summit tomorrow are already proving to be massive for the news agenda.
Rightly so. The protests are much needed, and support must be shown for those working to make a positive difference to the way that the world works following the recession.
However, what is most interesting me at the moment is how well documented these protests are turning out to be. Almost to the extent that maybe 20% (total guess…) of those out on the streets around the Bank of England today are actually journalists and aspiring new media journalists.
In part, it is to do with the media’s interest in the subject matter; arguably showing an underlying liberal bias in those who work in the media industries. Such an interest in itself provokes the thought that the media workers are willing the protesters on. Wishing to see change, if only just for the ensuing massive news story and great pictures that ‘change’, in its many forms, might bring.
This photograph, courtesy of the BBC, shows the sheer number of photographers, sound recordists and camera crews – right the way up from amateur equipment up to professional gear – which have gathered in London today for the protests.
Indeed, some on Twitter have already been criticising the media involvment in this protest, with the Guardian also commenting:
This in itself shows you the level of interest in these protests. It has been all about the Twitter coverage, with blow by blow accounts of the situation being fed through traditional news streams such as The BBC and The Guardian, but also through Twitter and blogs.
The citizen journalism website Demotix is another glowing example of the sheer level of media involvement, with hundreds of photographs and write ups of the protests being poured into the online maw at a startling rate throughout the afternoon.
This protest therefore speaks volumes about two things.
1. The sheer interest and public appetite for change. People no longer want the corporate world to run their lives unchecked, so far to say that some elements wish the system completely turned on its head, or at least changed beyond recognition to avoid a future ‘great recession’.
2. That the dawn of the citizen journalist has truly arrived. Everyone involved in the protests, from national press to individual interest has had a hand in the production of the news today. Twitter has proven some kind of worth and the nationals have dived in at the deep end. Though this is perhaps a statement too far - as many journo’s have probably been hiding in pockets in the crowd, trying to save their cameras – but it’s almost as if we’re now an entire age of Hunter S. Thompson’s – living the events of the day to produce the story.
Now. Enough cogitating on the media… let’s get on and change the world.
‘Labour Party politics had become a variant of Conservatism, ‘revolutionary’ politics had become a game of make-believe.’
George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn (1940)
Yes it’s the new year, so we are all inevitably making false promises to ourselves that 2009 is going to be a new leaf in our battered-beyond-recognition book of morals.
Personally, I’ve not thought of anything I can change about myself in 2009. Does this make me perfect? Does it heck, I’m just lazy. Though I think it’s about time I started thinking about it, with the new year being well under way.
So lets start with some daft trivialities that will not make a real difference, after all, they’re the easiest promises to make to a ne’er do well new year resolver like I. I think I’ll start by making sure I squeeze toothpaste right to the end of the tube, and hows about promising to help more old ladies across the road whilst I’m at it.
Some people might be undertaking more serious promises, some with admirable conviction and others with less zeal. The typical “high-time I quit smoking” and “I’m going to lose some weight” conversations are no doubt being wheeled out across the land, along with a large cast of couch potatoes proclaiming a renewed interest in pumping iron and pounding miles in the gym.
So, boom time for sales of trainers, sweat bands, nicotine patches and slim fast shakes, no doubt just in time to save some beleaguered British retailers. However, give it a couple of weeks and this post Christmas boom will just be a blip.
None of us really like changing all too much and New Year resolutions are no different. All the best to those who are giving it a go though, you’re better people than this lazy scribbler.
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