American University's Center for Social Media Launches Website on New Media in War

Contact: Maralee Csellar, AU Media Relations, 202-885-5952




WASHINGTON, DC (April 7, 2003) - The war of words and ideas has moved to new levels of technology and discourse during the War with Iraq, according to American University's Center for Social Media. The Center's new War Beyond the Box Website scans informal and ad-hoc communications reaching far beyond the "box" of mainstream media in time of war.




War Beyond the Box is a snapshot of a moment in media, with illustrative examples and links to more information. It is designed to encourage research on the burgeoning phenomena of digitally-facilitated informal communication.




"Our scan of the informal media environment showed us how quickly a wide range of individuals and groups seized upon digital opportunities in order to influence public opinion as the nation moved toward war," said Center director Pat Aufderheide, who led the study. Strategies changed quickly with news and feedback via instant Internet networking, she noted.




Research team observations include:


There is vigorous cross-feeding between informal communications media and gatekept media-whether it's bloggers quoting CNN or the New York Times tracking bloggers;




In much of ad-hoc and informal communication-particularly in the "electronic samizdat" form-suspicion of mainstream, gatekept media is common;




Informal media depend on the trust invested in the individual voice and the personal network. People often trust information they receive in their email inbox more easily than what comes over a network TV channel-whether they should or not;




Bogus information travels as quickly as accurate information along electronic networks.




The study was executed and the website designed between February 2-April 2 by graduate students from the University's School of Communication.




The Center for Social Media showcases and analyzes moving image media as creative tools for public knowledge and action. It acts as a seedbed for researchers to share ideas and information about all forms of socially-engaged media. The Center is a project of the School of Communication, where students, faculty and alumni form a community of learners, informing and shaping the new communication services, strategies and professional roles.




For more information, about the Center for Social Media visit www.centerforsocialmedia.org or contact Joel Mills, assistant director, at 202-885-3107.



For media assistance, contact Maralee Csellar, AU Media Relations, at 202-885-5952.