Wire and Lights is a multimedia journalism blog by Matt Ford and Evan Vucci
Why is the site called Wire and Lights?
At the 1958 RTNDA convention, CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow boldly confronted his colleagues over his concern that the growing catalog of radio and television news production was primarily “evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live.”
Murrow argued for a greater sense of purpose from his broadcasting brethren and a renewed commitment to coverage that shines a bright light on the realities of our world. Additionally, he challenged those who might argue that there is no viable audience for such coverage.
To those who say people wouldn’t look; they wouldn’t be interested; they’re too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter’s opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost.
Murrow finished with a passage that would hold resonance more than 50 years later.
This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful.
That decisive battle still wages on and our arsenal of weapons has certainly grown.
- Today the global flow of information is nearly instant.
- Sights and sounds recorded on large film cameras by an exclusive few have been replaced by lightweight cameras that are as ubiquitous as the paper and pen was so many years ago.
- The ability to distribute in any medium from any corner of the globe is limited only by bandwidth and computing power.
And yet with all these technological advances, the struggle continues.
- In cutting costs, newsrooms across the globe turn first to their international desk.
- Entertainment coverage expands while the commitment to expository journalism ebbs.
- For all the lenses pointed at the world today, much of the suffering and injustice still occurs without witness.
Wire and Lights aims to share the latest approaches to multimedia journalism and to highlight those who would strive to use the wire and lights of the Internet age to educate, illuminate and inspire.
This weapon of world wide web could be useful.
You can visit Matt Ford’s portfolio site at MattFordMedia.com.
And Evan Vucci’s portfolio site at EvanVucci.com.