Lies, bullying, exaggerations, sexual promiscuity, false promises, crude language, fake news… all have become a daily part of the new media ecosystem. This blog is about the psychic and social impact of this 24/7 news and digital media world.
It is not about politics or political ideology, even though it might seem so sometimes. I assure you it is all about my study of media produced changes in society and individuals, and the implications for leaders in today’s media saturated environment.
We live in a time of dramatic change in both domestic and world politics. A new president has changed America’s role in the world from one based on human rights, justice and individual freedom to one based on America and the president first in all matters, disruptive and confusing daily tweets, and individually negotiated relationships and trade agreements.
I will be calling on my more than 50 years of study of media revolutions and the communication dimensions of leadership to achieve an understanding of the dynamics of these current social and political changes.
For example:
- From families, to campaign politics, to governing, to education, to foreign policy and even to individual behavior, digital media and communication revolutions have changed everything.
- Leadership characteristics and expectations are changing. Social media, 24/7 news coverage, and the power of dramatic imagery created an environment where repeated lies can begin to sound true and the constant glut of information confuses everyone about what is true and was is not.
- Multiple channels of news and social media have resulted in huge amounts of information that is not fact-checked, or is simply fake news, raising serious issues about the traditional constitution guaranteed role of the freedom of the press.
- The original system of checks and balances between branches of government has been upset by the media revolutions, enabling the most media savvy legislators and the entire executive branch to gain in power.
- All of these new media influences and communication tools have allowed leaders to get elected who present us with serious issues related to extreme political ideology, the appeal of an autocracy, and the challenge of practical problem-solving in a media saturated society.
In summary, this blog is about the psychic and social consequences of this 24/7 news and digital media world.
