ATLANTA — The relatively recent uptick in user-generated content online is “total freedom,” but individuals must now provide their own “wisdom and insight,” a former U.S. Senator from Georgia said this evening.
“We have more and more a totally democratic access to media,” former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland told the Atlanta Press Club on Monday. “But, that puts more responsibility on us as individual citizens.”
“We have more and more a totally democratic access to media,” former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland told the Atlanta Press Club on Monday. “But, that puts more responsibility on us as individual citizens.”Cleland, a decorated Vietnam veteran, served in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2003. He is currently the secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, a role he has held since 2009.
Cleland, a decorated Vietnam veteran, served in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2003. He is currently the secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, a role he has held since 2009.“Where
“Where is the wisdom and insight now? The wisdom and insight used to be provided by — shall we say — experienced reporters who became editors,” Cleland said. “… That pyramid is almost gone. Now you have a completely unrestricted, unedited, unexpurgated version of whatever it is that’s happening. And, you can just choose your own view of things. You can put your own spin on whatever is covered — on Facebook, on Twitter, on a cell phone. …“Anybody can create a blog; anybody can make
“Anybody can create a blog; anybody can make news. Anybody seems to be able to say anything they want to,” Cleland said. “Now, on the one hand that’s total freedom and that’s total democracy. On the other hand, where’s the wisdom and insight? Individual citizens have to provide their own now. It’s not going to come from some third party.”