Public Forums

A public forum is also known as a marketplace of ideas.  With modern technology and the internet it's become easier than ever to express one's opinion.  These public forums present a great opportunity for people to present their ideas and have discussions.  However people can say what ever they want, and that can mean less thinking and just simply looking to make an argument.  

Christine Chinlund of the Boston Globe states, "True, technology gives us the potential for a more open debate than ever before, and that should excite the little “d” democrat in all of us. But the new communication format, the authors warn us, already has demonstrated that the “urge to comment replaces the urge to verify.” It is often more about delivering news (and concurrent comment) than gathering it. As a result, it devalues expertise—thus, the rise of inexperienced young pseudo-expert commentators (sometimes misconstrued by viewers as being journalists) who are the rage today."

I think people get too excited about their comments before they actually think them through.  Before people comment on forums they should check their facts and use the system of verification.  If more people did this, it would provide a better environment for debate and would add more quality to the discussions.  

Chinlund says, "As if all of this were not enough to discourage public participation in the forum, one final thing might: Call it the “food fight” factor. Too many of today’s talk shows proceed on the theory that everyone likes a good fight. Polarization, not conversation, become the defining principle. We forget that the job of journalism is not just to foster an exchange of ideas, but to make that exchange a civil one in which truth is a requirement."

I think Journalists should provide a public forum, however it is out of the journalists cannot control who says what.  If I was the journalists providing the forum I would encourage people to review their comments and check their facts before posting.  

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/101687/Is-Journalism-Losing-Its-Place-in-the-Boisterous-Public-Forum.aspx