American Writer and Media Entrepreneur Discusses Media in the Digital Age

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YEREVAN, Armenia – On October 9, 2015, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted American professor, writer, and media entrepreneur Dan Gillmor, for a public lecture entitled “We are the Media.” The lecture was made possible through the joint efforts of Journalists For the Future NGO, AUA’s BA program in English & Communications, and the U.S. Alumni Association of Armenia, with the financial support of the U.S. Department of State Public Affairs Section.

During the lecture, Gillmor addressed the current challenges of traditional journalism and convergent media, the future of journalism, and the efficiency of media startups. He also took time to answer questions from the audience.

According to Gillmor, in today’s digital age, journalism has turned into conversation, and those who work in the media sphere must be able to reckon with their audience. Because of this, he believes that journalists should work transparently if they wish to gain the trust of their audience. He also commented on the growth of citizen journalism, and advised the audience to be more active and enthusiastic on the Internet. “It’s more possible now than ever to create your database of media resources. There’s no need to even use big resources – try media startups,” advised Gillmor.

In his speech, Gillmor also talked about the increase of fast and unverified news, considering it unacceptable. “Мedia organizations should take a breath and refrain from spreading fast and scandalous news,” he said.

As a veteran journalist, Gillmor highlighted the provision of honorable and fair news through adherence to professional principles of journalism. “Fairness, to me, is very important. I really think that we need to follow those journalists and media organizations that we qualify as such,” he said.

Dan Gillmor serves as Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is also the author of two books, We the Media and Mediactive. During his visit to Armenia, he presented the Armenian translation of Mediactive, which discusses digital media literacy. The Armenian translation was published by the Journalists For the Future NGO. You can also access it online. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.