Cameras Everywhere

There is no doubt the popularity of smartphones and universal cameras on those phones has had an effect on the way the media cover and portray stories which include video captured by someone on their phone.  Countless incidents involving police officer shootings have included video evidence to accompany witness accounts and any other traditional ways of gathering information for news reports.  Having the ability to get video evidence has changed the way people connect to news stories with more intimacy than previously.  Seeing events as they unfold, especially unexpected events, can give clarity to a situation and provides another piece of concrete evidence that should help the public learn the truth about a given situation.

An article from The Hill looked at this very phenomenon as it relates to an incident involving Hillary Clinton attending a 9/11 ceremony.  “Hillary Clinton wasn’t feeling well to the point she had to make an early exit.  Her handlers obviously knew what such an exit would do: Feed the narrative – irresponsibly called conspiracy theory at that point by too many posing as objective journalists – that there really was something more than allergies surrounding the Democratic presidential nominee’s health” (Concha, 2016).  The article goes on to describe the attempt to cover up the incident by Clinton’s team and the subsequent video which was captured showing her having trouble walking and getting in a vehicle.  A story which may have been lost to history had it taken place twenty years ago became a major story which news outlets were forced to talk about given the pervasiveness of the video online.

Having people everywhere with the ability to record a video in seconds has forever changed how we think about the public square in our society.  It has given weight to stories which may not have had any and it allows evidence to support stories and also discredit them.  Truth is still not gleamed from a video which may have captured only some of the events and though we have more relevant content to inform our point of view, having video evidence can give false confidence to an incorrect narrative.

Concha, J. (2016). How a smartphone camera changed the discussion on Clinton's health. The Hill.  Retrieved from http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/media/295607-how-a-smartphone-camera-changed-the-discussion-on-clintons-health

[Zdenek Gazda]. (2016, September 11). Hillary Clinton 9/11 NYC. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zYthqiLs_I