There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?
Recent Articles
- The Year 2020 Has Been a Wakeup Callby Michael Nabert, published December 31, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(1 comment)
- The COVID-19 Marshmallow Experimentby Ryan McGreal, published December 22, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(1 comment)
- All I Want for Christmas, 2020by Kevin Somers, published December 21, 2020 in Entertainment and Sports
(1 comment)
- Hamilton Shelters Remarkably COVID-19 Free Thanks to Innovative Testing Programby Jason Allen, published December 21, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(0 comments)
- Province Rams Through Glass Factory in Stratfordby Doreen Nicoll, published December 21, 2020 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
- We Can Prevent Traffic Deaths if We Make Safety a Real Priorityby Ryan McGreal, published December 08, 2020 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(5 comments)
- These Aren't 'Accidents', These Are Resultsby Tom Flood, published December 04, 2020 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(1 comment)
- Conservation Conundrumby Paul Weinberg, published December 04, 2020 in Special Report
(0 comments)
- Defund Police Protest Threatens Fragile Ruling Classby Cameron Kroetsch, published December 03, 2020 in Special Report: Anti-Racism
(2 comments)
- Measuring the Potential of Biogas to Reduce GHG Emissionsby John Loukidelis and Thomas Cassidy, published November 23, 2020 in Special Report: Climate Change
(0 comments)
- Ontario Squanders Early Pandemic Sacrificeby Ryan McGreal, published November 18, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(0 comments)
- A Rundown of the Lunacy That Is Council's Vendetta Against Cameron Kroetschby Martin Zarate, published October 13, 2020 in Special Report: Council Conduct
(0 comments)
- Councillor Threatens Integrity Commisioner Complaint Against Charity, Private Individualby Ryan McGreal, published October 02, 2020 in Special Report: Council Conduct
(0 comments)
- City Already Published Unredacted Motion Central to IC Reportby Graham Crawford, published October 02, 2020 in Special Report: Council Conduct
(0 comments)
- Councillors, Listening to Angry People is Your Jobby David Harvey, published October 02, 2020 in Special Report: Council Conduct
(0 comments)
- Low Hospitalization Numbers Today Are No Cause for Complacencyby Ryan McGreal, published September 23, 2020 in Special Report: COVID-19
(7 comments)
- Silence is Acceptance for Colleagues of Bullying Councillorsby Ryan McGreal, published September 14, 2020 in Special Report: Council Conduct
(1 comment)
- One Resident's View of Safe-Sizing Aberdeen Avenueby Graham Crawford, published September 09, 2020 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(0 comments)
- Erin O'Toole's Climate Policy is Insincere and Unseriousby John Loukidelis, published September 08, 2020 in Special Report: Climate Change
(1 comment)
- Predictions of Chaos and Doom for Herkimer, Charlton Bike Lanesby Ryan McGreal, published September 08, 2020 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(0 comments)
Article Archives
Blog Archives
Site Tools
Feeds
By Samuel (anonymous) | Posted May 11, 2012 at 11:49:16 in reply to Comment 76668
File alongside “crowdsourcing,” unpaid spec work, “creative internships” and other dodgy workarounds.
The “exposure is its own reward” model may be hailed by some as victory for democratic access.
Some will feel gratified to have a larger audience, or to be seen on the arm of a marketable brand such as the CBC.
But it can lower the bar. It can set a standard that other local media players will feel inclined to emulate, in the name of the “innovation” status quo.
It also stands to undermine the market value of content and the viability of content creators. It puts a premium on the eyeballs, on the audience for content, but not the content itself. It may elevate the self-esteem of a few but not without consequence.
Maybe you won’t choose to call it exploitation if you’re flattered by the attention.
Maybe being told that this is “your CBC” and that it’s “a forum for the local community to exchange and upload their own happenings” muddies the equation.
But if it’s legit, if it’s about valuing and honouring our “distinct culture and community,” there should be total transparency around this relationship. Any good experiment involves disclosure.
The current state of affairs is not the kind of creative thinking we should be encouraging.
It is not the kind of national legacy we would want to spin off to the rest of Canada.
Especially in light of our city’s principled labour history.
No amount of cupcakes can sweeten that deal.
Early days. Let's hope, and work, for better.
Permalink | Context