Social Media As Watchdog

For over a year many readers had been requesting a compilation of posts on MediaCrooks (MC) be published in a book form. A compilation of over 400 posts would be quite bulky so I have chosen the 50 most popular posts that cover many media related issues that would remain relevant over time. The book ‘Social Media As Watchdog’ (SMW) brings you that compilation. Going beyond a mere compilation the book explains the arrival of Social Media as a watchdog over MSM and how there is no monopoly on national discourse anymore. The book compiles the posts in 9 freshly written chapters.

Recent events have shown that the SM is starting to influence discussions and debates on TV, newspapers and news sites. This is one of the most heartening developments in our country. SM puts power back where it belongs: in the hands of ordinary people. Those who pooh-poohed the internet, blogs, Facebook or Twitter will not be able to ignore these anymore. Those who adapted to these new communication tools will benefit from it. In a few years one can expect the SM to become the more dominant voice in public discourse. The MSM does not have the monopoly on dictating the national discourse anymore. Even those in the profession of journalism or hoping to enter the profession can use the book for some introspection.

I am frequently asked the question if MC has made any difference to the MSM. It is hard to tell and even harder to measure. One thing I can confirm is that most MSM people do read the blog frequently. The greater purpose was to ensure that readers become more aware of the spins, distortions and deceptions by the MSM. That purpose is being served well and many consumers of news and debates are now carefully assessing each word and sentence being uttered in the media. On the SM, anyone who can reasonably construct a response in 140 characters can claim a response to the MSM. The other important task MC had undertaken was to respond to MSM not with mere opinions but with cold, hard facts. I have consistently believed that facts count and opinions belong in the garbage can where public discourse is concerned. Opinion matters the most when it goes into the ballot box. In most corporate bodies people with facts are more useful in decision making than those with opinions. In business, though, decision-making by an educated guess, gut-feeling or instinct is always welcome but these should not be welcome in news reporting and analysis.

SMW shows how willful deceptions by the MSM are being challenged and rectified by Social Media. The collection also shares a limited list of a dozen books and movies that form a background to the posts on MC. These books and movies have been often used to create analogies to explain the behaviour and news-delivery of MSM. Also included in the book is list of a dozen other great blogs and websites which best analyse and offer commentary on the MSM and current affairs. There are many others that I follow but had to limit these lists to a dozen.

One thing that does bring joy to me is that many readers of MC have now started their own blog and are writing their responses and analysis of news and current affairs. Writing is a joy but to make it impactful it needs some tactics. In the book I share five unique writing and branding tactics employed at MC for the benefit of readers and budding writers.  Thanks to Prof. R. Vaidyanathan of IIM Bangalore who has written the foreword for the book. He is a finance & economy expert and a keen observer of media himself.

Those wishing to procure a copy of the book may CLICK HERE and get details of the book and the ordering process.