Click to download audio version Location: Zoom Date: Friday 5th June Project:
Coindesk Role: Journalist The role of a journalist is to question, educate and
inform. A truly free press is a fundamental pillar of a free society, and
unbiased and objective reporting is crucial in getting a broad understanding of
any industry. News corporations are now arguably more partisan and divided than
ever before, highlighted by how Fox News and CNN have become partisan propaganda
outlets. Fox News is pro-Trump and will defend him and his policies almost
without exception; alternatively, CNN is pro-democrat and will question almost
everything Trump and his administration do. Within Bitcoin, there can be a
similar lack of objectivity and willingness to challenge the status quo
critically. The Bitcoin community are often referred to as its immune system, by
being aggressive and vocal about anything that seemingly questions the direction
or ethos of the network they protect it from coercion and negative outside
influences. While this is mostly a useful stance in an industry that has more
than its fair share of scammers and questionable projects, this can make the
role of journalism within Bitcoin tricky to navigate. Despite long and firmly
held beliefs, Bitcoin evolves, as does the size of the user base and how they
use Bitcoin. Journalists must challenge commonly held beliefs, even if these
means hard criticism from Bitcoiners. In this interview, I am joined by Leigh
Cuen, a journalist and writer at Coindesk. We discuss the importance of
journalism, Bitcoin as a peaceful revolution and the strict narratives that are
held by Bitcoiners.
Coindesk Role: Journalist The role of a journalist is to question, educate and
inform. A truly free press is a fundamental pillar of a free society, and
unbiased and objective reporting is crucial in getting a broad understanding of
any industry. News corporations are now arguably more partisan and divided than
ever before, highlighted by how Fox News and CNN have become partisan propaganda
outlets. Fox News is pro-Trump and will defend him and his policies almost
without exception; alternatively, CNN is pro-democrat and will question almost
everything Trump and his administration do. Within Bitcoin, there can be a
similar lack of objectivity and willingness to challenge the status quo
critically. The Bitcoin community are often referred to as its immune system, by
being aggressive and vocal about anything that seemingly questions the direction
or ethos of the network they protect it from coercion and negative outside
influences. While this is mostly a useful stance in an industry that has more
than its fair share of scammers and questionable projects, this can make the
role of journalism within Bitcoin tricky to navigate. Despite long and firmly
held beliefs, Bitcoin evolves, as does the size of the user base and how they
use Bitcoin. Journalists must challenge commonly held beliefs, even if these
means hard criticism from Bitcoiners. In this interview, I am joined by Leigh
Cuen, a journalist and writer at Coindesk. We discuss the importance of
journalism, Bitcoin as a peaceful revolution and the strict narratives that are
held by Bitcoiners.
