By Stephanie Zucarelli
Media Party X will be the intersection point for everyone looking to create formats that become the information sources of the future. To that end, this hackathon proposes thinking about Web3 as an information oasis and encourages reflection on what kind of journalism could hydrate a new technological phase with transparent data.
What are we talking about when we invoke Web3? Before diving into a technical definition, we need to consider the characteristics of older connection structures. In doing so, we will also understand how news media leveraged them to promote information dissemination.
Web 1.0 allowed news curators to think of a global library that functioned as an unlimited database. During this period, the World Wide Web protocol amazed those who began creating digital media, with a strong focus on replicating print journalism, leading to a revolution in the mass reach of news articles.
In terms of production, Web 1.0 enabled access to remote information sources, albeit with a restricted level of verification. While many official organizations held their publications to the same production standards as their print counterparts, the ability for users to build their own web structures quickly became a double-edged sword that sparked questions about editorial curation.
Web 2.0 exploited what had initially been a weakness: community creation. Thanks to digital platforms that enabled the integration of other programming languages and the rise of social media, the information network expanded its reach exponentially. In an era where anyone can share information limitlessly, the proliferation of “fake news” spread unchecked. Users began following a dangerous trend: sharing unverified data simply because someone (whom they might deem qualified) also shared it on social media, even without any factual backing.
As Web 2.0 evolved in its ability to support more formats, so did citizen journalism, where eyewitnesses to events can make their perspective go viral without the need for specific editorial curation. This era is marked by content creators who formed a new category of communicators with a process distinct from traditional journalistic development, yet with a more effective reach.
This era is also governed by a key factor in digital strategy: the tyranny of the algorithm. Content only becomes visible thanks to an aggregation of metadata that refines what users are presumed to want to see on their feeds. This turns information into a monetizable product, ultimately styled according to trends. In response, journalistic production balances precariously between visual appeal and clickbait.
How could Web 3.0 help overcome the problems of mass information overload? Many proposals suggest it could guarantee two key things: transparency and information verification. As long as media outlets operate within blockchain technology, every piece of content can be traced back to its original source. The very code that protects users within the blockchain could act as an authentication marker for whoever curates information. In terms of monetization, Web 3.0 could also bypass advertising and editorial intermediaries, restoring value to those who structure the information.
At the Media Party X hackathon, we ask how journalism can cross boundaries and become a space that solves the problems inherited from previous digital strategies. To this end, we invite developers, designers, journalists, and communicators to ask themselves a key question: what future of journalism would you like to create?
To participate in the Media Party X hackathon, register on the official website.
