Publish then filter and filter then publish
Clay (2008) book explores the shift from the “filter then publish” to “Publish then filter,” which is redefining how people relate through social media platforms. Initially, the cost of publishing was enormous. This is because the publishing process incorporates numerous steps that require preparation of published material, printing, distribution to store books, libraries, and readers. Therefore, publishers and authors were selective in the texts or material they sort to produce and publish. This required filtering a process that employed the use of gatekeepers on behalf of the publishers as means to publish the right material with fewer costs. It is imperative to note that the term gatekeeper is commonly used to refer to editors of newspapers, journals, among others (clay, 2008). Today, much of the traditional processes mentioned above have been “eliminated” in the publishing processes. The rise of the internet and technological, social platforms has enabled publishers to publish their material without the need to incorporate bureaucratic gatekeepers, thus under the “publish then filter,” publishers engaged in the self-editing process before directly publishing to ensure the highest levels of quality.
This means that anyone can be able to publish on the internet with the limits associated with the pre-publication filtering. For example, a writer can publish their stories online through a blog post. The publication’s content is readily accessible and available to the internet community, who can praise or criticize the publication without the interference of a reviewing body. The approach is different from the traditional approach of “filter then publish, which requires writers and authors to submit their texts and materials to be rejected or edited before being published to the public. The filter then can be viewed as the opposite of “publish then filter.” The former relied significantly on intermediaries such as editors of newspapers, journals, and other gatekeepers to facilitate the publications in public spaces.
Moreover, there are social and economic implications associated with the “Publish then filter” approach. The “Publish then filter” has been critical in facilitating the rise and development of social media in recent years (clay, 2008). Essentially, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook use “Publish then filter” because any post can be shared with the public immediately. Therefore, enhancing social interaction among people in different parts of the world. In retrospect, the “Publish then filter” has reduced the bureaucratic publication process, making publishing costly. Thus, writers and authors can directly share their content and material online for free without hiring typists or editors to verify or critique the work.
Amateur
At the turn of the twentieth century, professionalism characterized the workplace. Armature activities and processes were transformed into professional roles guided by established occupation standards. The rules and regulations introduced to raise the standards for people seeking to enter a given profession. Such trends in the professional world defined most of the occupation until the last few decades of the previous century that observed the rise of mass armatures. By definition, mass amateurism facilitates the elimination of the dichotomy between armatures and experts by developing an acceptable category of “professional armature.” Mass maturing occurs when society systematically eliminates or simplifies the barriers to entry to a given profession.
The growth and development of technology have primarily influenced the delamination of traditional occupational barriers in the current society. Essentially, innovation has enabled the new generation to adopt new professional practices that supersede the traditional expectations and requirements. A growing number of armature professionals demonstrated the capability and technical proficiency equal or above those in the professional fields. For instance, traditionally, people were required to get a college or university degree in order to secure a reputable career or occupation. However, in today’s society, a majority of young people are dropping from college and universities to venture into “self” defining careers. In addition, initially, employees were required to wear specific attire to work, but today most of the young professions who are self-employed/ employed are generally not required to have professional attire.
It is imperative to note that the rise of “mass amateurism” does not mean the end of traditional “professionalism.” Nonetheless, it demonstrates a shift in “how people work” or “do things” professionally. This is because mass amateurism relies on the fundamental principles of professionalism. Such as the need for ethical and moral code, recognition of high standards; confidentiality of professional relationships; objectivity, and impartiality when engaging with others. The above sentiments are consistent with the observation of Clay Shirky that there will always be people who would need to acquire information or knowledge from professional kinds of literature that rely on filter then publish approach. However, the publishers or editors in such established mainstream publishers may not physically resemble in look or character to traditional professions. Overall, the traditional professional practices are evolving based on the emerging trends emanating from amateurism occurring in the technology era.
Open-source software
Fundamentally, the Open Source Software is a software whose code is available for all users to inspect, modify, copy, and use based on their needs. Writing codes develop computers software in one of any number of programming languages. Essentially, before the code can be run as a computer program, it must first be compiled in a language, which a computer can read. This means converting the written code into binaries readable by a computer device. Coherently. Proprietary software often referred to as commercial software, has additional licensing that limits unauthorized users from using the software.
In contrast, the Open Source Software, the written source code can be adopted by anyone for their use or application. In the contemporary setting, Linux is perceived as the most used and reliable Open Source Software. This is because Linux provides Open Source Software to users such as organizations and individuals who can customize their software to cater to their needs. The Linux is increasingly being used by educational and technological innovation hubs to train students on how to create and harmonise codes to solve societal problems.
The introduction of Open Source Software enables individuals and organizations to overcome the proprietary limitations associated with commercial software. This does not, however, means that success means the end of commercial software. Ideally, Open Source Software requires skilled human resources and financial resources to facilitate its effectiveness in practicability. Organizations that rely on Open Source Software have to hire extra professionals to ensure staff training, maintenance, and managing security risks. The additional costs can be overridden by adopting commercial software that facilitates timely updates, patches, customization, and support guarantees to users. Furthermore, most people do not have the technical capability to customize Open Source Software to their needs; thus, they may be required to acquire commercialized software. Therefore, the technical and economic limitations associated with Open Source Software minimize the possible end of commercial software in the near future.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia collaboratively written by a large population of volunteers from different parts of the world. It is among the most popular website and the internet’s most considerable referenced work. All of the content available in Wikipedia is user-generated, implying that anyone can virtually place their work or content. There are critical processes that Wikipedia adopts to ensure the reliability and authenticity of the content. The accuracy of Wikipedia emerges from the collaborative interactions of its expert users. The interactions occur in user-based debating platforms. When users decide whether specific edits or information is removed or added, they use a process dubbed “reaching consensus.” Once all experts reach a consensus, the document can proceed to publication to the public.
The quality of Wikipedia entries is equal to or superior to entries in commercial encyclopedias. A recent study deduced that the accuracy of Wikipedia is at par with Encyclopedia Britannica when examining the frequency of errors (London et al., 2019). The increased accuracy is based on the edit model employed by Wikipedia when publishing articles or relevant information. More so, the articles presented in Wikipedia can be edited and configured by any of its users through technical deliberations. The collaborative approach allows individuals to analyze and edit information already published or expected to be published critically to eliminate errors and inconsistencies. Thus, the final document approved is likely to have superior or equal entries similar to those in the encyclopedias.
Reference
Clay, S. (2008). Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations. London, UK: Allen Lane.
London, D. A., Andelman, S. M., Christiano, A. V., Kim, J. H., Hausman, M. R., & Kim, J. M. (2019). Is Wikipedia a complete and accurate source for musculoskeletal anatomy?. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 41(10), 1187-1192.
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