“the lay of the land”

What struck me after watching the panel for Lay of the Land, was the reoccurring topic of “should content (online) be free?” From the guest lecture last week (the NY Times), the same question has been repetitively asked to us students. So, do I think content should be free? Yes and no. And, alike with the panel, my answer resonates in theirs as well. Opinion should be free while news should not. But where does that leave music, media, and all other aesthetic forms? Kyle De Pinna, DJ and creator of his blog “Shifty Rhythms” seems to believe that music should not be free, yet allows his viewers to freely download his music posts. Although I agree with him, that music should not be free and should be rightfully paid for, I still illegally download like the rest of us probably do as well. So then why do we think it should be paid for, when we are unwilling ourselves to drop $1.29 on iTunes for the new hit singles from Britney Spears? Our Internet culture has become so reliant on free content and free knowledge that there are no longer any boundaries between what we should be paying for and what should be free.

The Lay of the Land panel joined together many different aspects of new media journalism and content. From an experienced writer from the LA Times (now a blogger for LA Observed), to a novice fellow student Kyle De Pinna, all variations of generations were present to discuss the ongoing phenomenon of new media. The development of these blogs from as early as 2001 when the term “blog” didn’t even exist truly emulates the rapid growth of our Internet culture. What stood out to me from the panel’s discussion was that there are two types of content in regards to blogs. There are some that will fade away; people who regurgitate their life story or bash on people, and blogs that stand out; that make something of them selves. That got me to thinking that in order to make a mark in the Internet culture, we really must be innovative. And even by being innovative you have to rise above the rest to make a dollar these days.

Another aspect mentioned in the conference was that of being a “storyteller”. I have been learning in my various other classes that storytelling is an acquired gift, the more you practice the better you get. So, in essence, blogging can simply be storytelling. So what story will you tell?