#MEDIA is a monthly practice to shift more focus to our mission: creating an alternative to traditional media where Creatives are in full control of their narratives. We explore opinions, experiences and wishes that other media outlets will keep unheard.
DANIEL LABROSSE
Visual Artist & Art Director
Budapest
I’ve noticed that the general public has an overall distrust of most mainstream news sources due to the perceived notion that they put profits ahead of objectively informing people. This belief, whether one agrees with it or not, seems to have become more deep-rooted over time as the public is adapting to social media.
On the surface social media gives people the illusion that they are receiving authentic information from first hand sources, instead of being filtered through journalists and editors who may have hidden agendas. This sort of fake authenticity is dangerous because it can be used to further misinformation and radicalise people.
I conducted a fun little social experiment a few years ago where I asked people to send me their deepest anxieties and I’d draw a small comic book-y portrait based on them. The variety of responses I got reminded me of how many different people social networks connect, which may seem obvious to some, but I feel it’s not something that’s always apparent.
Social media has tons of drawbacks, I feel like in its current shape it does more harm than good, but I think this is a very positive aspect, getting to meet people from all walks of life has the potential to build empathy, if you’re willing to get out of your echo chamber.
I feel like outlets today have a tough task of both adapting towards online publishing and utilising social media, as well as a responsibility to be transparent with their readers regarding their internal workings, - such as who their owners are, who their sponsors are, where do their sources come from - if they want to win back the trust of the public.
Written and edited by Julia Horvath
Image Courtesy of Daniel Labrosse