Everybody is just going like, Hang on, I'm sick of this. I'm sick of being told what to think. I'm sick of having a fucking political spin on everything."
— Jake Hanrahan

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The internet has transformed traditional media with newsgroups becoming reliant on advertising as readers are reluctant to pay for news online.

The advertising model has led to the rise of clickbait news organisations such as Buzzfeed, with content and headlines designed for sharing and reach. Some argue that this has led to an increase in fake news, something Andreas M. Antonopoulos explained in his talk Fake News, Fake Money talk.

The algorithms used by social media companies are also under scrutiny, with people questioning how much power do platforms such as Facebook have in shaping opinion? Can these algorithms drive a specific political agenda? Can a malicious actor weaponise these platforms and create and target news to manipulate opinion?

A perfect storm of bloated unprofitable news organisations and an increase in distrust of mainstream news is leading to a rise in independent journalism. Anyone with a phone can now record a podcast, make a video and build a following on social media, with people like Joe Rogan now able to draw in viewer numbers higher than prime time TV shows.

These independent journalists are free from the constraints of mainstream media and able to deliver authentic news with a higher level of trust. In this interview, I talk with Jake Hanrahan, a journalist, filmmaker and the founder of Popular Front. I find out why Jakes believes that increasing subjectivity in mainstream media is leading to the rise of independent journalism.

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Show notes and transcription:
https://www.defiance.news/podcast/the-rise-of-independent-journalism-jake-hanrahan

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Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:39 - Welcoming Jake to the show
00:02:05 - Jake’s background - Vice News and independent Journalism
00:05:03 - Joe Rogan taking independent journalism mainstream
00:09:52 - Mainstream media’s left/right divide
00:16:12 - Mike Cernovich and divisive guests
00:17:12 - Brexit and UK politics
00:20:51 - Using Twitter as a research tool
00:22:28 - Hong Kong protests
00:23:54 - Gun laws
00:28:29 - The Extinction Rebellion
00:33:49 - Climate change
00:38:01 - Time away from technology
00:41:59 - Becoming desensitised to acts of violence
00:47:51 - The underreported protests in Iraq
00:50:00 - Creating media content on a budget
00:54:18 - The UK selling weapons to Saudi Arabia
00:57:41 - What is happening that people aren’t aware of
00:59:46 - Jake’s favourite parts of Popular Front
01:01:51 - Scaling a business
01:08:50 - Jeffrey Epstein
01:11:04 - Censorship

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