Miyashita 1
Hisae Miyashita
Professor Christianson
ARW Section: BD
15 October 2011
6th Draft
Alternative media, the Internet
Research Question
How should Japanese use alternative media to avoid media control?
Thesis Statement
In order to avoid media control and get sufficient and reasonable information, Japanese society should utilize the Internet as alternative media. Although there does exist dangers of fully relying on the Internet, benefits are more crucial and without changing the concept toward the Internet, Japanese no longer live as independent citizens.
Ⅰ. Introduction
A. (Hook) Facts about earthquake in Tohoku were concealed
B. (Background) Current situation of the Internet and media
C. Thesis statement
Ⅱ. Advantage of using the Internet as an alternative media
A. Enables people to share ideas and develop knowledge more easily
1. Power of Creative
⇒Discussions on the Internet by using blogs or facebook and so on.
2. Power of Controversial
⇒Information on the Internet is diverse and arguments are also diverse.
3. Power of Changeable
⇒
B. Enables people to look at both side of the news or issues whenever they want
1. Diversity of the information
2. less censorship
C. Enables people to gather opinions which may difficult to reach the government or
companies .
- Power of Majority
⇒demonstration against nuclear plant
Ⅲ. Disadvantage of using the Internet as an alternative media
- The current wave which corapse Net Neutrality.
- Power of majority may overwhelmingly attack people and cause a panic.
- It hard to detect which sources are more factual.
Ⅳ. Solutions
- Be aware of disadvantages
- Be a critical thinker
Ⅴ. Conclusion
A. Repeat thesis and main points
B.
Works cited
オルタナティブ・メディア : 変革のための市民メディア入門
http://www.rui.jp/ruinet.html?c=400&i=200&m=202105
http://www.dreamgrow.com/world-map-of-social-networks-2010/
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25204 RADIATION: It's Official: "Nuclear Fuel Has Melted Through Base of Fukushima Plant" by Washington's Blog
“There was no danger because the fuel rods were stable and being cooled” (Radiation): this is the phrase that TEPCO and the media in Japan used and uses again and again when accidents about nuclear plant are reported. However, it is completely doubtful. People did hear this phrase when the media reported there was no meltdown but after that, it turned out that meltdown was partially under way (Radiation). Even after this fact was announced, the media used the same phrase: there was no danger (Radiation).Actually the meltdown was NOT PARTIAL but its incident level was 7 as the same to Chernobyl (Radiation).What on the earth could the media use the phrase which is not based on the reality. What is more, the media in Japan is STILL reporting that there is no risk to human health. Yet, the media abroad is reporting completely different an outlook. ~find sourse~~says that they can’t believe there in Fukushima, people still live. ~~find sourse~~~says the influence on children is difficult to estimate and Japanese government should take action in order to save such little lives. However, Japanese can’t know that sort of opinion on the TV or newspapers because the media don’t report the news which danger existence of the nuclear plant. What people can is try to get the information through the Internet or ask the experts.
99,182,000 and 78.4%: this is the latest data of the number of the Internet users in Japan and the penetration based on Japanese population according to Internet world Stats, which is an international website that shows world Internet usage from 233 countries. When we look at the situation in the world, now 2,095,006,005 people are using the Internet (Internet). Can you imagine that huge number of the people are using the Internet, which just born decades ago (source). However, in Japan, mass media still occupy majority, and general citizens don’t have the opportunity and never come to mind to express their idea to public by theirself (Waltz).
But as seen in the incident in Fukushima, Society has to take an action to make it clear what is the truth. In order to avoid media control and get sufficient and reasonable information, Society should utilize the Internet as alternative media. It is true that there does exist dangers of fully relying on the Internet, but benefits are more crucial and without changing the concept toward the Internet, People no longer live as independent citizens.
Using the Internet as alternative media provides us three advantages. First, it enables people to share ideas and develop knowledge more easily. Second, it enables people to look at both side of the news or issues whenever they want. Third, it enables people to gather opinions which may difficult to reach the government or companies. First, let’s look at the first advantage: easy to get and easy to develop. In other word, the Internet has the power of 3Cs. The meanings of the 3Rs are the followings: 1) power of CRIATIVE, 2) power of CONTROVERSIAL and 3) power of CHANGEABLE. What I mean by power of CRIATIVE is that the world on the Internet is filled with creative stuff and that creative situation gives us an exciting discussing opportunity. For instance, creative tools such as blogs and SNSs (social network service) provide people fields to discuss the issue occur in the real world. Now that many people use facebook and blogs to share idea, the power is inebitabke. Seond power, CONTROVERSIAL means that information on the Internet is divers and that situation help people to argue from the various perspectives. Third power, CHANGEBLE means that the Internet has potential to overturn the imperfect situation.
Second advantage is possibility of both-side thnking. It means that because of the diversity of the information on the internet, people can look at the issue from variouse pespectives and can get the information whenever they want.
Third advantage is easy to form opinions. This means that, as citizens, people can use the power of majority. For example, demonstration against nuclear plant was take place in shinzuku, koenzi. It shows that the internet make citizens’ activity more lovely.
Unfortunately, however, there does exist disadvantages. First disadvantage is possibility to attack certain people overwelmingly or to cause a panic in public. Second advantage is that it hard to detect which sources are more factual.
It is true that there exsit disadvantages sutated above, but benefits are more crucial.If we pursue a perfection, people can use nothing. Society have to take the failures steps for the success. In order to make efficient use of the Internet, people always have to have 2 thngs in their mind. 1) Be aware of disadvantages and 2) Be a critical thinker.
As shown above, the Internet do have the power to change the situation in Japan and promote citizens’ activities. In order to avoid media control and get sufficient and reasonable information, Japanese society should utilize the Internet and use the Internet as the tool of exchanging ideas. Without changing the concept toward the Internet, Japanese no longer live as independent citizens. In other word, we no longer mention the disadvantage, such as Deaikei Site, but we must look at and take the advantages more. The internet is wonderful tool to promote real democracy.
