I have already done my usual early-morning scan through a wide range of news sources that emailed me their headlines overnight. These include the FT, Guardian and Telegraph in the UK, as well as the Washington Post and New York Times in the USA. I also pick up a range of other information from specifically tailored Google News alert emails. After all that, I had very little to write about, though one or two items sparked ideas for videos.<\/p>\n
The question that followed was obvious. I know it is the end of the supposed \u201csilly season\u201d for the news because our politicians have gone away on holiday, but does that, and should that, mean that the news agenda should come to a virtual halt?<\/p>\n
Does this absence of stories say something else? Is it that our media is not really interested in the news at all? Is it, instead, really only interested in the froth that is generated by the political process, and the incessant press releases issued by corporate media, which also go quiet at this time of the year?<\/p>\n
The most important stories have not, after all, gone away.<\/p>\n
Climate change is still happening.<\/p>\n
Poverty is still very real, and is being suffered by far too many people.<\/p>\n
People are still in corridors in the NHS.<\/p>\n
Schools will be underfunded when the new term begins, and children with special educational and development needs will not be getting the support they need.<\/p>\n
Social care remains in crisis.<\/p>\n
Many populations in the UK live in fear of far-right politics, and with very good reason.<\/p>\n
AI is creating a threat for many communities because of plans for data centres.<\/p>\n
Water is not flowing as it should, and is under the wrong ownership.<\/p>\n
This list is incomplete, but my point is obvious by now, I think. The stories have not gone away. The issues are still real. But because the people who are talking about them are those who are suffering the consequences rather than the people who created the stress, the media is not noticing.<\/p>\n
The obvious question is, how do we get it to do so?<\/p>\n
How can, for example, social media replace this news agenda?<\/p>\n
What is it that we can do to get the stories that matter in front of those who need to know about them, if only to prove to people that they are not alone in their frustrations, fears and genuine concerns?<\/p>\n
I think I\u2019ll try to do my bit in this way, but when people ask me, \u201cWhat can they do?\u201d, I think one of the answers should be: highlight the ordinary.<\/p>\n
Everyone has a camera on them these days, all the time. Why not, for example, take a picture and post it on social media with a relevant comment?<\/p>\n
A picture of a school could be accompanied by the question, \u201cWill every child get the education they need next term?\u201d<\/p>\n
A picture of a charity shop could be accompanied by a comment such as, \u201cCharity shops are closing. Don\u2019t we care anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n
And a picture of young people taken from behind could be accompanied by the question, \u201cWhere do we expect them to meet in the evening without being a nuisance?\u201d<\/p>\n
I spend a lot of time thinking about how we can address the problems we have at the moment. Is citizen journalism of this sort one way to do it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"