Research Essay: Dissident Journalism and the Internet

INTRODUCTION

The internet is a technological development that is rapidly reshaping all forms of communication (Streitmatter, 2001. p.281).

It's origins date as far back as the 1960s when the United States government first researched digital communication. The idea was to build a sophisticated system which would enable computers to act as a medium for communication. By the 1980s the early internet (first known as the ARPANET) was used primarily for academic and military purposes. By the 1990s, commercial networks and global enterprises were universally linked. This made the internet become what it is today. Modern internet services now grow larger by the day as worldwide more personal, and mobile computers are connected. Internet use has grown over 100 times in the last 20 years and in the last year alone has reached third the global population.

The internet's traits have particularly stunning implications for the dissident press (Streitmatter, 2001. p.281).

It's significant low publishing costs have enabled people with modest financial resources gain instant global access. Easily accredited, the opinionated activist/citizen journalist now too can attain global reach. The internet's design also helps readers to bypass information monopolies like the mainstream media and media conglomerates including Time, Warner, and Disney. It allows for accessible connectability to both independent and commercial organization and offers precise tools for in-depth search. The internet once connecting publishers to readers, now also connects published reader to readers. People have the new ability to build and grow 'true grass movements' as geographically the internet has no borders.

So the internet has become an enormous boon for the dissident press (Streitmatter, 2001. p.281).

Early activists including Bobby Seale of the Black Panther newspaper and feminists who produced off our backs, have all moved into the world of cyberspace (Streitmatter, 2001. p.281).

Dissident journalism also attracts controversial leaders/personalities. The most prominent new age voices include that of Howard Stern and the late Hunter S. Thompson. Since beginning his career, Stern has always proved to be the opposite of normal. His dissident lifestyle has since earned him some of the highest paid salaries in history. It is also not uncommon for dissident groups of people to advocate online as one global network. Online group Anonymous is an international network of activists and hacktivists including many dissident journalist entities. Anonymous has recently 'declared war' against terrorist group, ISIS. Note that all of the people/organizations listed above all have online websites where information is easily attainable.

BODY 1

Prior to the invention of the internet, dissident journalism carried a much smaller reach. Mainstream media monopolized the networks, and dissidence spread primarily through ink. Community organizations including The Black Panthers were forced to advocate in the streets. The Panthers advocated a voice which promoted community self-defense. As part of a revolutionary socialist movement they battled the U.S government fighting independence and equal rights. At one point in his career F.B.I.'s Director J. Edgar Hoover called the party,

"the greatest threat to internal security of the country." (The Black Panthers, Wiki.)

The Panthers were co-founded by Huey Newton, and Bobby Seale who were both political activists. Their inspiration to form an organization came only a year after the assassination of civil rights activist Malcolm X and their claim grow was in self-defense. During the paper’s initial four years, from 1967 to 1971 when the party was at its peak, the editorial content was dominated by five major topics: police brutality, violence as self-defense, economics as the most serious form of oppression, Black American genocide by the federal government, and the need to resurrect black manhood (Streitmatter, 2001. p.220).

The organization had eventually grown so large the F.B.I. had formed counter intelligence programs as part of their reaction. The Black Panthers have survived for almost fifty years and many of which, they and no internet. Originally using the voice of the streets, they too evolved with technology. Streitmatter noted internet as a positive force for any voice and I would have to agree. The Black Panthers are all over the internet and have a very well-designed site (TheBlackPanthers.com).

Visitors have the option to subscribe and/or join while promotions and ads run throughout. The site is very clear they are very much still an active organization. Currently, the site promotes the 2015 new release film The Black Panthers – VanGuard of the Revolution.

This documentary tells the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, one of the 20th century's most alluring and controversial organizations that captivated the world's attention for nearly 50 years. (IMDb.com).

Other online sites include informational blogs and historical archives with published notes for perusal (Marxists.org).

The internet has been a constructive home for the party and in turn their memberships still rise.

BODY 2

Another historical American moment included that of the feminist movement. From 1970 to as recent as 2008 the early twelve-page, radical feminist periodical called off our backs was published into a bimonthly journal. Edited and published by a large group of women, the organizations mission was clear:

- They provided news, and information about women's lives and feminist activism

- They educated the public about the status of women around the world

- They served as a forum for feminist ideas and theory

- They were an information resource on feminist, women's, and lesbian culture

- They sought social justice and equality for women worldwide

(offourbacks.org) - All points above

This information has been made available at offourbacks.org and without the help of the internet it would not have been accessible. The website though inactive acts as a learning tool and teaches visitors their cause. Another helpful site includes that of a blog which acts as an archive to decades of knowledge. A piece of text written on the main page reads,

It was an absolute delight to process over 30 years' worth of off our backs, the longest running feminist newspaper in the U.S. (thelibraryintern.wordpress.com).

Information on the organization is also available on the Alternative Press Center webpage where for a small fee more extensive material is made more available (altpress.org).

Streitmatter also noted that though competition was strong, off our backs was the least radical of the papers (Streitmatter, 2001).

BODY 3

One of the most important figureheads in dissident journalism is that of the late Hunter S. Thompson.

As an American journalist and author and was an original co-founder of the gonzo journalist movement (Hunter S. Thompson, Wiki).

Thompson broke the barrier on dissident writing when he began writing for mainstream publication, Rolling Stone Magazine. He wrote regarding the Watergate scandal though in an article he said, there was not a hell of a lot of room for a gonzo journalist to operate in that high-tuned atmosphere (RollingStone.com).

His dissident, gonzo style was both forsaken yet intelligent and thus in turn is now infamous.

In his first book, Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga, published in 1967, Thompson, in typical gonzo journalism style, chronicled his time infiltrating the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. "I was no longer sure whether I was doing research on the Hell's Angels or being slowly absorbed by them," he wrote of the experience (biography.com/hunter).

Found in a related academic journal, even PhD's are discussing his methods. The definition of Gonzo journalism is, of course, ultimately subjective.

Gonzo is a journalistic methodology. It is also a body of work produced through that methodology (orca.cf.ac.uk).

All of the information one would need to know on both Thompson and gonzo journalism can be found on the linked sources above. His books can also be purchased online, and are available to ship worldwide. Though without the help of the internet, gonzo journalism may not have survived.

BODY 4

Howard Stern was another with a strong voice in the world of dissident journalism. Sterns long professional career included that of a radio personality, producer, author actor and photographer.

He brought his signature "shock jock" radio style to New York in 1982 and by 1986 his show went into national syndication. Repeated fines and interference from the FCC eventually drove the self-styled "King of All Media" to satellite radio in 2004. Stern's bestselling 1993 autobiography is titled Private Parts (Biography.com/Howard).

Stern's career as a broadcaster evolved from radio, to television, to internet, and now satellite. It seems his early radio career discussing of hookers during morning traffic hour had lead him to a $500 million contract. With the contract soon nearing it's end Stern is again left with healthy options.

Howard Stern would have plenty of options, including Netflix, or AppleMusic, if he were to leave Sirius XM when his contract expires next month, said Karmazin, former CEO of the satellite radio service (cnbc.com/howard).

His video's can also be found online where his younger 1980's character runs wild on the Late Night Show with David Letterman.

BODY 5

The final group of reference in relation to dissident journalism is that of the international activist and hacktivist entities, Anonymous. The group gathers primarily online and is known for a series of well-publicized stunts. Members commonly wear 'Guy Fawkes' mask in attempt to stay secret and have recently declared cyber war upon terrorist group ISIS. Anonymous has also previously shut down the Cleveland, Ohio city website, and declared cyber war on radical organizations including the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Recently on October 28, 2015 they revealed they would release the names of 1,000 Ku Klux Klan members and stated the privacy of the KKK no longer exists on the internet. Anonymous' headquarters is that of a news site. Their online dissident webpage though controversial is thorough.

AnonHQ was created for a number of reasons. One of the primary reasons is due to the horrible mess of mainstream media and news outlets; a lot of the information shared by BBC, Fox News, NBC, ABC, and many others is either blatantly false or twisted and peppered with lies (AnonHQ.com).

Anonymous commonly posts videos on their YouTube propaganda site. Recent videos feature stories on both the KKK and Paris terrorist attacks. Some less than a week old have almost 1 million views while one reaches almost 3 million(YouTube.com/anonymous).

We are an anonymous, internet-based, international and multicultural team from literally all around the world and we are constantly growing (AnonHQ.com).

To learn how to become a member of Anonymous, just simply access the internet. Be careful accessing their sites as you may receive notice like this, 'You are tracked by; the NSA, Cloudflare, Google, Twitter, Facebook, and many others (Anoninsiders.net/how-to).

CONCLUSION

It was obvious from the beginning that the internet has been a good tool for dissident journalism.

The internet's traits have (shown) particularly stunning implications for the dissident press (Streitmatter, 2001. p.281).

If the mainstream media can operate online, as too can their dissident neighbours. The internet welcomes and shelters any group in need and comforts them close as they grow. It builds friendships through mutual promotion and connects networks worldwide. The internet can be safe, though it can also be dangerous. Harmless noise once curse words have soon turned to cyber-attacks. The internet is fun to travel though is also a place of war. Alike in real life where dangers are lurking, the media is never far.

So the internet has become an enormous boon for the dissident press (Streitmatter, 2001. p.281).