David Gauntlett describes the current trends in media studies as having created two peaks of activity. One focuses on issues of surveillance, data exploitation and “computer capitalism”, however Gauntlett believes that although these issues are important, there is enough attention already on this peak. Instead he looks more at the second peak, which focuses on the way in which more people are new able to make media, which empowers them with new possibilities.

I agreed with most of Gauntlett’s arguments. Naturally, the more negative of the two peaks gains more interest, due to how we tend to focus more on fear and negativity than the positive in life. But this doesn’t mean we should ignore the positive aspects of the changes to the media industry and the potential they bring with them. The rise in online media platforms, for example, has allowed millions of people to have their voices heard who previously had no way of sharing their experiences with the outside world.

This can most clearly be seen in the number of online political movements, and how quickly they are able to spread and gain support. Just recently, an activist rap video was able to rally enough support to win compensation from consumer goods company Unilever for exposing 561 of their ex-workers to mercury in Kodaikanal in India, when a previous lawsuit was not able to produce these results. Of course, these same platforms can be used in negative ways too, but the fact remains that they provide the opportunity for groups who don’t have access to mainstream media outlets to make a real impact on the world they live in. And to me, that one of the reasons the present is such an exciting time to be working in media.