MY recent feature on Essential Writers.com lamented the plight of the freelance journalist.
It is a case of survival-of-the-fittest out there for freelancers who are never too sure where their next paycheque is going to come from.
Amazing
However, an amazing development has taken place in America and it comes in the shape of www.futurity.org
This website has been set up by a total of 35 research universities and together they publish discoveries made by their scientists directly to the public, cutting out the middleman - newspapers.
Shift
The reason I describe this as amazing is that it represents a shift, away from the almost monopoly-like, big name media outlets, towards a more grass-roots type of communication.
In turn, this avoids distorted information and specially selected stories which support a newspaper’s agenda.
What’s your agenda?
When I read the Daily Mail for example, I often feel like a fuddy duddy who would prefer to be living in the conform-loving 1950s is lecturing us by the stories it chooses to publish.
Take a look at these headlines from Tuesday 27 October, 2009: Downs’ cases soar as women delay a family; B&Q to teach DIY because Dad’s too busy; Yes, children DO make you happier; and these are all before page 11.
The future
Futurity.org separates its research stories into Earth & Environment, Health & Medicine, Science & Design and Society & Culture.
The academic brains behind the website state that the reason they created futurity.org was because there were not enough research stories in the mainstream media, due newspapers cutting back on science pages and reporters.
Direct to the public
This amazing development signifies a drop in power for these mega-bucks media moguls. So freelancers go forth and be creative in the way you communicate – the future is the likes of futurity.