Oblique Strategies for Ambient Journalism

Alfred Hermida recently posited ‘ambient journalism’ as a new framework for paraand professional journalists, who use social networks like Twitter for story sources, and as a news delivery platform. Beginning with this framework, this article explores the following questions: How does Hermida define ‘ambient journalism’ and what is its significance? Are there alternative definitions? What lessons do current platforms provide for the design of future, real-time platforms that ‘ambient journalists’ might use? What lessons does the work of Brian Eno provide—the musician and producer who coined the term ‘ambient music’ over three decades ago?