Internet JOURNALISM Hero’s

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With web based news emerging as the number one media source in the modern world, prominent online journalists are being more recognised for their work than ever. With a heavy focus and criticism from mainstream media, online competitions and awards for outstanding online contributions, web heroes have emerged. Julian Assange, Arianna Huffington and the Young Turks Cenk Uygur, have all used the internet to accelerate their career and are well known globally. The internet allows budding media personalities to spread their reach internationally and gives independent journalists a platform to compete against larger organisations.

Many debate over whether or not Julia Assange is a journalist. He calls himself one but many in the global media disagree with his self-title, but whatever he is technically called, his contribution to modern journalism has been massive. He heads Wikileaks, an organisation dedicated to releasing important and sensitive government information to news organisations and the public. While Assange has been criticised for what some say is the release of inappropriate information, others argue Assange is aiding the world by smashing up secrecy and overcoming government power. He is a controversial figure, charged in Europe for sex crimes related to non-consensual unprotected sex, a claim he continues to deny and an accusation many say is a conspiracy, with powerful people desperate to imprison him. His organisations leaks have contributed to many important news stories breaking and investigations into serious crimes and misconduct. For that he should be commended.

Assange speaking on 'Alternative/Citizen Journalism' 

Arianna Huffington is the editor-in-chief of the world’s largest online newspaper, the Huffington Post. Huffington launched her newspaper in 2005, and the blog and news site quickly become one of the most widely read sites on the web. The Huffington Post has won multiple acclaim and is one of the most successful new media outlets in the world. Huffington has been acclaimed by Time magazine and has authored a number of bestselling books. Her founding of Huffington Post has encouraged numerous other small media outlets to form and thrive and the Post’s site is continuing its enormous global growth.

Cenk Uygur is not a name widely known in Australia. Nor for that matter is his online news program, The Young Turks. He is co-founder and presenter of the program, which according to the Huffington Post and Uygur’s Young Turks Bio, is the world’s first ever live, daily web television talk show. The Young Turks is the largest online news show in the world. The show is one of the Top 50 You Tube Partners, with over 23 million views a month on the The Young Turks You Tube Channel. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur) Uygur‘s has helped expand his award winning show into a network, with a variety of additional shows being broadcast under TYT’s brand.

Uygur presenting 'The Young Turks Hour'