"Herein rests an enormous and largely uncomprehended power: the power to assemble the picture that citizens end up having of one another; the power to dictate what our idea of 'other people' will be like; the power to invent a nation in our imaginations." - Alain de Botton, The News: A User's Manual
The French novelist Gustave Flaubert, expressed some grave concerns over the mass proliferation of media in his day. He proclaimed that the papers were spreading a new kind of stupidity:
"Peasants are less idiotic than three-quarters of the middle classes of France, who are always getting themselves into a frenzy over something they've read in the papers and spinning like weather vanes according to whatever one paper or another is saying."
It's not a far stretch to find a similar critique of mass media in our day. Most of us share concerns over what we are exposed to. These concerns may include, the focus of the material, the bias of the reporting agency, and the accuracy of the information.
The reasons for popular media's disarray may not be easy to discern, but we have a few ideas. First, the amount of information has exploded to such a degree that we can easily find some form of media "support" for virtually any thought, viewpoint or opinion. Second, most of us fail to validate the source providing the information. Lastly, we tend to spend little or no effort seeking diverse information or differing opinions.
A new media platform seeks to cure some of these ills. Dallasyte is set to disrupt media landscape across Dallas/Fort Worth. The site will be launching the winter of 2016 to pursue its mission:
To provide a diverse digital platform built by the people that are shaping the future. Dallasyte promotes action-oriented narratives from the designers, creators, entrepreneurs, and influencers in Dallas.
The themes to be covered by Dallasyte will include: Culture, Enterprise, Food for Thought, Health & Beauty, and Philanthropy. Who will be contributing to Dallasyte you ask; Co-Founder Angel Armendariz says:
We have an amazing group of entrepreneurs currently lined up to contribute. Additionally, we plan to build our network through contributor referrals and by special invitations for guest writers. Dallasyte will also have an open submission channel on the website to allow creators the opportunity to submit their stories.
In essence, Dallasyte will be the place for creatives to write about all the things they're building. The value will come from hearing about the innovations and budding enterprises straight from the source. Who better to write about Dallas than the people actively building it?
In an ongoing effort to give back to the community, Dallasyte will spotlight a monthly non-profit, who will receive 10% of profits garnered by the company each month.
The Dallas metroplex is surging with talent. By uncovering and showcasing the works of talented individuals, Dallasyte will act as a catalyst to make Dallas one the top destinations for business, culture, and innovation worldwide.
Do you think you have the entrepreneurial chops to contribute? Creatives can submit their stories for review on the Dallasyte website at Connect & Contribute under the main menu.