When we hear about a Twitter and Facebook “revolution” in “X Square” or in a city in Libya, do we get keyed up? When we later hear about “rebels” and “civil war” somewhere in Africa (in that same Libya), do we tune out?
This week’s On the Media — one of the best hours of every week on National Public Radio — includes a segment on the effects of media metaphors like these, and other good material on online protestors “anonymous,” media coverage of recent labor protests, and distinguishing between journalism and “churnalism” (the regurgitated publicity that fills airwaves).
