Dan Gillmor's essay, "Rodney King and the Rise of the Citizen Photojournalist," looks at the history that led up to the watershed moment, 20 years ago, when the King beating was recorded with a personal video camera, and what's happened since then:
In recent days, the grim videos and photos coming out of Libya have been testament to people's desire to bear witness to cruelty and oppression. Around the world, dictators have learned that even if they kill their people they can't ultimately stop the world from seeing what crimes they commit. Yes, they can use technology to stifle freedom, and they do. But media from average people can make a real difference, too, and it does again and again.
Imagine where we will be a decade from now in a technological sense, and then let's return briefly to November 22, 1963. Dozens or hundreds of people in Dealey Plaza would have been capturing high-definition videos of the Kennedy assassination, most likely via their camera-equipped mobile phones as well as single-purpose digital cameras and video recorders. They'd have been capturing those images from multiple perspectives. And–this is key–all of those devices would have been attached to digital networks.
I found myself watching two London cops — one plainclothes and one in uniform — busting a presumed drug-dealer while I was waiting for a bus the other day. Without thinking, I dipped into my pocket, pulled out my camera, dialled it to max zoom, and held it loosely, just in case there was something that needed photographing. I don't think I'm the only one with that instinct.
Rodney King and the Rise of the Citizen Photojournalist
(Thanks, Dan!)
