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September 7, 2009
The "iron core of information," newspapers, blogs, and sunshine
Atlantic Yards Report
Norman Oder (inevitably) brings a critique of a book fretful about the future of mainstream journalism's watchdog role back to Atlantic Yards.
Democracy requires both information and a light on that information. Important information isn't important until someone who commands attention or some trusted institution validates it.
The system is already broken--the news about Carlton Avenue Bridge was ignored--but it may have to break more before it can be reconstructed.
Imagine a world in which there are fewer established media outlets but more sunshine. Some institutions, whether they be online journalism or civic organizations, would have to emerge to validate the importance of the information uncovered.
But perhaps more people would have been reading the documents of the Empire State Development Corporation and more oversight would have emerged.
Posted by eric at September 7, 2009 10:06 AM