Fall 2005 PDF - Milton Academy

Zander Dryer ’00NEW MEDIA:T o u c h p o i n t sA s a matter of his own past and future,Zander Dryer ’00 is a student of “newmedia.” After graduating from Yale University,Zander wrote for Slate magazine [Slate isan online magazine only], then continued tofreelance for Slate as he moved to write forThe New Republic (TNR—print andonline). He still writes for both journals, butis working with Peter Beinart, editor of TNR,on Peter’s book about the history of liberalismin the United States over the last century.From Zander’s perspective as a practitioner,certain facts about new media are worthpondering:1. For people my age, the Internet makesit easier to break into the [journalism]business. The appetite and need for onlinecontent is a bottomless pit.2. The immediacy of the Web (to andfrom) is the important thing. For instance,President Bush mentioned in a press conferencelast spring that he might not necessarilyappoint a judge to the SupremeCourt. My editor asked me to research alist of the non-judges he could potentiallyappoint. Within 24 hours an article wasposted. Writing is posted constantly, withinmoments of an event; uploading occursanytime and all the time.3. In Washington, D.C., at least, Weblogslike John Marshall’s and others drive thenews cycle. Weblogs raise issues; themainstream media find it necessary torespond. Anyone can start a Web site.TNR and other print publications can’twait until the next print cycle to react totoday’s questions and assertions.4. On the other hand, we have an evenmore serious need for journals likeNewsweek and other newsweeklies becausethere’s SO much opinion. I can read 300different people’s opinions, but not manyare thorough, reflective, fact-checked summationsof the facts.5. Is the public lethargic? Will they takethe time to gather news facts? In a wayI’m lucky; scanning blogs is part of myjob. But on any given day I’ll scan threepapers and several blogs, online and manyother people my age do the same.6. Screens are ubiquitous. People my ageare completely comfortable and happyreading on the screen. I don’t want theextra clutter of daily newspapers piling uparound my apartment. (A Washington Postsurvey among young people found theywouldn’t want a paper even if it were free.They prefer to read it online.) Screens, inthe form of laptops that use wireless technology,are everywhere; people can alwaysprint out what they want to save.7. Accountability? The whole computerrevolution has increased accountability:vast databases; powerful, quick, userfriendlysearch engines; hyperlinks; beingforced to see who’s writing the opposite—what arguments they use and what factsthey cite. I’m working with Peter Beinart,whose book is based on a magazine piecehe wrote. We looked to Google to find outreaction to the article when it was published:the reaction then informs theshape of the book that is growing out ofthe article. Add to that the fact that informationcan’t be “lost” anywhere (e.g., transcriptsnailed Trent Lott; attention to hispast life and records were driven by bloggers).The Downing Street Memo exposurewas driven by blogs.8. Right now, the line between blogging—offeringyour opinion—and blogsdriven by a serious political agenda, powerfulpolitical groups, is not necessarilyclear enough.9. A blog about someone’s social life cangain a larger readership than some ofthe medium-sized city newspapers in thecountry.10. People my age are used to being presenteda New York Times article and a blogentry on the first screen in response to aGoogle request. Both are presented democratically,and both have the chance of elicitingequal attention.11. About the audience: Mike Kinsley, thefounding editor of Slate, and former editorof TNR, said, “Our market is the thinkingman’s solitaire.” If you have 15 minutes tokill—click over (you’re already at a com-Zander Dryer ’005 Milton Magazine