The Race for Information (Turns out the US is the Tortoise)

It is truly amazing just how far technology has come today. It used to be that when you flipped on the news or spread open the news paper the news you read was the news you got, whether it was manipulated or not. Now the average Joe can choose what news he gets through blogs, news networks, and even video sites such as YouTube. It is no longer possible for the government to regulate news; the power has been transferred to the people. The government is even realizing what a powerful tool the media is.
This is not a new realization, however, so called “third world” countries have been using the power of video for years to rally support for their ideals. It is amazing that for so long the news in America has been so regulated, while these countries that barely have running water have been making propaganda films and television feeds for years.
I wouldn’t say that we are losing the info war; we are just way behind. I definitely don’t agree with the showing of soldiers being shot, such as seen on Iraqi propaganda films available on YouTube would help the American public, but I do believe in adding little leeway on the restrictions of images coming from Iraq to mainstream news. War is war and it does need to be shown so people can understand what war is really like.
If you were to search “Baghdad Sniper” on YouTube it will display over thirty videos from both Iraqi and American sources. Videos of American soldiers being shot while Iraqi chanting plays in the background are among the particularly disturbing footage. Search even further into the YouTube footage and you will find images of military convoys being bombed and even an air assault on Iraqi insurgents: something you will definitely not see on CNN.
We may be way behind in the race for information domination, but you have to admit, we are catching up quickly. Sites such as YouTube have made “real” news more readily available to the American public. Blogs have created a way to instantly share political ideas with people from all over the world. Phones with cameras and video capabilities have the ability to upload information on the Internet. We have a multitude of capabilities we just need to utilize them.


For more info visit:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16497895/site/newsweek/from/ET/
http://www.youtube.com