In Shirky’s book,  Cognitive Surplus: How Technology Makes Consumers into Collaborators, he describes the way new media has become our source of information regarding current events.  People or the audience will react; interact, provide updates, and give opinions about various world issues all while using the media.  I remember the times when watching the news or listening to the radio was the best way to receive important information about what is going on in the world. 

During my freshman year in high school year one of my teachers would listen to the radio for news updates before class started and we were settled down at our desks.  The morning of 09/11 she was listening to her radio and when we all settled in the classroom she told us that a plane crashed into the one of towers.  She had no other details except for exactly what she told us.  She assumed it was a small private plan and that it wasn’t anything serious.  At that point, the rest of my classmates and I didn’t think that the news was something to worry about.  My teacher was so nonchalant about it and she went on with the lesson, why would we think that the country was under attack by terrorists.  It wasn’t until about 1pm; when my family came to pick me up early from school, that I knew how serious and severe the situation was.  I was so frightened and couldn’t believe that the information we received was lacking a significant amount of details.

All of this took place before cell phones were allowed in classrooms.

I can only imagine how much information would have been flooding through Twitter and the blogs if we were as consumed with the media back than like we are now.