After reading Will Bunch’s “A Landmark for Bloggers-- and the Future of Journalism,” I began to think more about what Independent media does so differently than mainstream media that captures the attention of so many internet users. After reading this article I found the answer: Independent media provides a distinct voice to readers.

Coming to Ithaca College as a Journalism major was difficult because it seemed that so many of my professors had already imagined our careers in mainstream media. Our personal voices were muddled by mainstream expectations. I’ve always known that my interests did not lie in traditional reporting, but I didn’t feel supported in this decision. No matter how much independent media has begun to dominate the flood of news, it seems that so many journalism professors still hold tightly to mainstream outlets. Many condemn independent media such as blogs, deeming them irrelevant. But I want to challenge these professors. If journalism relies on the current state of the world, shouldn’t we (as journalists) understand the current state of news in our culture and accept independent media as viable news outlets? Instead of stubbornly seeking news only from mainstream outlets, we should focus on the strong emerging voices found in independent media that have begun to shape the news today.

While the article focuses on Talking Points Memo, a political site, the underlying messages can be applicable to all independent outlets. Bunch discusses the internet as an innovative platform to tell news “by using new techniques that emphasize collaboration over competition and by working with readers and through collective weight of many news sources…” Bunch discusses independent media’s interactiveness and innovativeness. Because they focus on only independent voices, they are free to present their biases and take their own stance on an issue. Bloggers have the freedom to unveil their true voices because they’re not tied to a mainstream outlet. Blogging seems to be a democratization of news. A good example of this democratization is Tavi Gevinson, editor of Rookie magazine. Tavi broke the mold of fashion media which was primarily led by Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Tavi, only fifteen when she first started Rookie Magazine,  took the fashion industry by storm, reminding the public that fashion and style is subjective and should not be dominated by only a few publications. Although she is young, she is bold and is able to hold power in one of the most critical industries.