Too much clutter and the future editors

In the beginning newspapers dominated. They were born in an age where the editor controlled, filtered and pushed out quality content. Yes, there was a trade-off. It was relatively expensive, but as any media mogul will preach, “quality costs”. They were also quite often biased with their singular viewpoints.

The web then exploded and moved us to an open-sourced world. We were encouraged to explore.  Like kids in a sweet shop, we were spoilt for choice. And it was cheap. In fact, in many cases it was free. Sometimes the quality was lacking as everyone had a voice.  But the exponential growth in websites, feeds, blogs and micro-blogs became overwhelming. It was an environment full of far too much clutter.

We’re now in the era of the ‘future editor’ and we’re experiencing a revolution in how we’re influenced by the media. The old hierarchy of editor-in-chief being in sole charge of what we consume, and when and where, is being questioned. We, the reader, have become the editor with a team of deputy editors. These new editorial teams are a diverse bunch. As is the case with all information, we’re searching for authentic sources to inform our opinions. Ultimately they are sources we trust. Some are established publications, others are celebrities with global followings. But the most important ones are our friends.

New tools like Flud, Apollo News, Pulse News and Flip Board aggregate our trusted sources into easy-to-digest digital magazines. They blend global news alongside intimate feeds from our social networks giving us a heady mix of the macro and micro.

At any given moment in Flud or Flipboard, I can see the latest developments in world politics right next to my ski instructor mate Guy and his daily report on snow conditions in Verbier. At the same time, Russell Brand ponders in his ponderland on Twitter and Devour hits me with the latest design trends.

These multiple sources act as filters to help guide me through the online clutter. They help me find the information that’s relevant to me. They have redefined the way I browse. I no longer find the shear scale of the digital clutter daunting. Everything is where I need it, right there in Flip Board’s digital magazine layout on my iPad.

But this newfound freedom is being threatened by the growing proliferation of single sourced applications. We’re seeing a general shift from the open web to ‘walled garden’ applications. It could be argued that the big boys are still trying to boss the flow of information, just as the media moguls of the past and present always have.

Murdoch’s ‘The Times’ app publishes the daily paper in an iPad format and charges for the privilege. My Mashable app pushes the latest trends direct to me whilst Dexigner shows what’s happening on the design scene here in Singapore. I use them all and they are all good in their own one-dimensional way. But the question becomes 'Are we becoming more closed and sheltered in our thinking due to these controlled walled gardens?'

Ultimately it has to be about openness and transparency and that’s surely at the heart of the net. I for one, want a wider range of sources helping to inform my opinion. That’s where the likes of Flud and Flipboard come into their own – they are true aggregators. They give me the choice of what to consume and they collate it for me all in one place. They make me the editor and that is a powerful proposition.

With these new platforms, it’s imperative that the user doesn’t neglect their newfound editorial responsibilities. I have made a pledge to keep a steady stream of new influences coming into Flud and Flip Board on a weekly basis. By adding new streams of influence it keep things fresh. If a stream isn’t delivering it gets scrubbed and consigned to the graveyard of irrelevance. And my curiosity continuously gets fed with a wealth of exciting stimulation.