Early Pamphleteers and Independent Media Today: Not so Different

If anyone is interested in learning about the beginning of independent media, I strongly encourage you to read Rodger Streitmatter's Voices of Revolution: The Dissident Press in America.

I just finished reading chapter 3 in it, and found it to be interesting. The chapter dealt with the publications in the mid-1850s promoting equal treatment and rights for women. It focused on one publication in particular: The Revolution.

While reading it, I noticed that Elizabeth Cady Stanton's and Susan Brownell Anthony's publication The Revolution had several things in common with independent media today.

First, it covered an issue--women's rights--that was ignored by mainstream press. Today, independent media is reporting on issues not being covered by the mainstream press, like the imprisonment of Egyptian bloggers.

Second, it was criticized by mainstream press as not being a legitimate publication. Today, many professional journalists knock-down independent media, because not all the news it produces is by trained professionals, but rather by citizens.

Lastly, it had a forum where citizens could comment on the issues the paper covered--similar to a letters to the editor section. Today, independent media outlets have a comment section at bottom of each article they produce, so readers can respond to it. This allows readers to share their own experiences and contribute their thoughts on the topic. It basically creates a discussion.

Early pamphleteers and independent media are very brave to go against the ideas of those in power. But change can only happen when those in power are challenged.