Mass Amateurization

Mass amateurization is when the lines between a group of professionals begin to blur with that of the amateurs. The vanishing of polarity professionals and amateurs creates a new category, professional amateurs. In Shirky's "Everyone Is A Media Outlet", journalism is used as an example to define what mass amateurization is. He asks "who are journalists? [...] 'a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news to be broadcast on radio or television" (Shirky 70-71). By that definition of a journalist, one can only be a journalist if one works for a publisher. Journalistic privileges are then only enjoyed by those who are employed by a publisher, limiting journalists to small group of people.Yet with the development of the internet, "anyone in the developed world can publish anytime, [...] then anyone can be a journalist. And if anyone can be a journalist, then journalistic privilege suddenly becomes a loophole too large to be borne by society" (Shirky 71). This is mass amateurization, when a person can do something that was once limited to only professionals, thus obscuring the boundaries of who is a professional or an amateur.

From my experience, I have been more dependent on blogs when I need news on fashion. There are countless blogs on the internet catering to the idea of fashion but who is a professional or not? "Last February, 22 per cent of the total press accreditations granted by the British Fashion Council to LFW were given to bloggers. This year, the number has increased to 33 per cent" (Leitch). These bloggers sit front row on the hottest runways, next to top journalists. So if they are allowed in the same seats as the professionals, aren't they professionals themselves?

Photo Courtesy of Culture Buzz

Bryan Boy is a blogger who was seated front row at the Dolce & Gabbana show, sitting only two seats from Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of American Vogue. With his laptop out, he, along with three other bloggers were invited to blog the show from their front row seats. Bryan Boy is a blogger who sits alongside the editor of a top selling magazine with 18 national editions. Now, professionals and bloggers sit side by side in the most exclusive fashion shows, clearly blurring the lines of professionals and amateurs.

Photo Courtesy of Vogue

Shirky argues that the outcome of this mass amateurization will be strongly prevalent. There were many obstacles "when reproduction, distribution, and categorization were difficult" (Shirky 78) but now as technology advances, some professional may be phased out by the ordinary patron. Mass amateurization is that it is not only limited to the media, it will spread into other professions as well "into the global society" (Shirky 80).

I feel that the future of the media professional will evolve greatly from where it stands today. The definition of journalists and the clear distinction between a professional and a amateur should be revised as journalism has evolved. This allows a clear guideline for those who are able to enjoy journalistic privileges.

Works Cited

Leitch, Luke. "Bloggers Are Snapping up Front Row Seats at London Fashion Week - Times Online." The Times | UK News, World News and Opinion. 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 03 Aug. 2010.

Shirky, Clay. Here Comes Everybody: the Power of Organizing without Organizations. New York: Penguin, 2008. 55-80. Print.