Centralizing Citizenship: Moving Media to the Middle

In Changing Citizenship, Bennet asserts that there are two basic types of citizens that influence today’s media.  He lists dutiful citizens (DC), ones who maintain an obligation to participate in government and self-actualizing citizens (AC), ones who who have a sense of individual purpose and diminished government.  I think Bennet is right in asserting this comparison and especially in claiming that the digital age is giving way to AC’s in today’s youth.

The power, or perceived power, of the internet seems to give young people confidence in themselves as citizens.  They have grown up with digital technology, they have come of age learning the ins and outs of navigating the internet, playing games, and probably programming. Youth today are less reliant on guides in the digital realm, which other authors have argued is its own environment complete with social capital. These youth hold all the social capital and they wield it as self actualizing citizens who long to control their own experiences, especially in digital media.

Bennet suggests that AC’s are less receptive to the old media model of “balanced, politically neutral, ‘objective news’.” I think the popularity of shows like the Colbert Report and the Daily Show totally refute that assertion.  These shows, while moderately informative, are based as comedy shows. However, there is not doubt that the level of information conveyed and gathered, as well as the conversations sparked among youth, is in its own way informative and mobilizing for young ACs.

ACs, as well as many young DCs, are drawn to programming like this as a way of rejecting the absurdity of radical politics.  While many would argue that these shows are left-leaning, they advocate for a moderate perspective on issues.  They urge compromise and realism when it comes to social, economic and political agendas.  I think that is what draws young people to them, they are tired or radicalized politics and they are using laughter as a form of aggression against the status quo.

I think young people are definitely leaning towards moderate or objective news sources, because they are irritated with the bureaucracy or modern politics and they want to focus on people and the issues as they relate to citizens such as themselves. They believe in the power of individuals because of the influence of the internet, therefore they believe in the need to be attentive to this perspective.  This is where the idea of the vox pop comes in.

Hermes dismissed the importance or power of this media tool.  As Lewis noted, “the public gets what the public wants” in terms of media; and the AC seems to wants  more realistic (if entertaining) approach to issues and politics. Returning to the idea of the vox pop, I think Hermes is wrong to dismiss this tool as overused and overvalued.  It is a polar opposite to the ‘abstract and arcane’ civics lessons Lewis noted.

The vox pop can be an eloquent expression of emotion, and emotion seems to be the motivator for ACs as illustrated through the popularity of comedy/news shows. The emotive sense of solidarity with tother common people, is what motivates the ACs. They believe in themselves and when they see vestiges of themselves in others, it is what mobilizes them to use the power they have available to them to accomplish anything.