I have just experienced a fascinating example of the sinking authority of printed publications. These kind of changes always interest me. I know when I was doing my MA that the only authority I could provide was of a printed sort and adding references from online sources required extra diligence in order to ensure they were legitimate. I am not sure how long this will be the case.
As a member of the London Chamber of Commerce, I receive their regular London Business Matters magazine. Unusual to a print publication nowadays, this particular magazine arrives in the post in paper format and does not have an online equivalent. That has never really troubled me until now – I actually really enjoy still reading paper magazines in order to give my eyes a bit of a rest from the screen every now and then. In the May 2009 Edition, there was an article at the back in their Motoring section entitled Fatal Distractions which discusses a disturbing but perhaps inevitable trend amongst motorists who are increasingly Tweeting while they are driving. I was particularly surprised by the comment that
Analysis of Twitter from esure found that an average of 52 motorists per day are even flaunting their dangerous use of social media behind the week [by Tweeting while they are driving]…
Of course, the first thing I did was to Tweet that statistic, but unlike most Tweets, it isn’t possible to link through to a paper article. After entering a conversation with @jangles who searched in vain for any mention of this online, I realised that without being able to provide a link to an online source, the paper source had very little authority to my followers.
Wow. What a change. Although I finished my MA several years ago when print still held sway, by the time I am doing my PhD are things going to have changed in the academic world as well? To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised. Granted, in my field of study (believe it or not I am actually an Art Historian and will eventually be looking to do my PhD in Art History!) perhaps things might be slower, but the changes that the digital age have brought are well and truly far reaching. If my assessors can’t click a link to see my source online, will my reference require more evidence. It will be interesting to see.
I admit that many years of academic study has instilled in me a habit of never making any bald statement without being able to provide a reference (I often find myself wanting to do it even when there isn’t any need!) but in the case of Twitter, that isn’t always easy. If you are an influencer of any size, you do need to consider what you are saying and who is listening.
I am certainly going to keep a copy of this article just in case anyone asks and cares to look at it.
Thanks to janerc for the image
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