Whatever happened to collaborative media? Hope, trust and locality in a troubled media landscape

Abstract

In the early 2000s, collaboration emerged as a defining characteristic of online communication, and the concept of “collaborative media” became a central paradigm for digital media production and consumption. The democratic potential of digital media appeared vast. However, two decades later, this optimistic vision has been significantly undermined. The contemporary digital media landscape is dominated by a handful of powerful corporations; platforms are increasingly associated with the proliferation of misinformation, harassment, and hate speech; and influential actors deploy technological and financial resources to destabilize democratic norms. Whatever happened to collaborative media? While the original promise has not been universally realized, we argue that collaborative media -- when rooted in locality and trust -- can play a vital role in strengthening communities and democratic practice. The potential of collaborative media remains significant and we propose that digital utopianism may be revitalized, provided it is grounded in the material conditions of everyday life.

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