Verifying Sources in the Era of Amateur Video (Zalman)

In an age where technology is changing the way news is reported, are the techniques that EA uses that unique or cutting edge? Dr. Amy Zalman, founder of Strategic Narrative, thinks so. In her words, we are "rewriting the terms of journalistic objectivity" in order to meet the needs of the 21st century, and overcome those dreaded words, "this video cannot be independently verified."

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The competing narrative continuing to unfold about the ongoing violence in Syria reflect how completely amateur video has now transformed our understanding of what “news” is. Activists’ homemade videos have shattered the idea that the Syrian government’s claim to be restoring “stability” to towns under attack from “armed terrorists” can be taken at face value.

Yet, amateur videos cannot be verified easily, and for that reason also cannot be taken at face value. In order to try to tell the “whole” story, Reuters, CNN and other mainstream sources seem to be frequently reduced to a version of stuttering about how, although they are showing citizen footage, they can’t vouch for it’s accuracy. The New Yorker, commenting on an August 5th video below, notes that, “Like all of the amateur videos coming out of Syria, where the foreign press has been banned, this footage has not been independently verified.”

Read the entire article, Verifying Sources in the Era of Amateur Video