The team behind Al Bayane made a significant choice by opting to engage with their audience not in the luxurious surroundings of a Casablanca hotel but within the hallowed halls of the Hassan II Mosque Foundation. From the expansive windows of the amphitheater, the grandeur of the mosque was visible, creating a profound backdrop for the event. As the audience settled in, whispers gradually faded into silence, building anticipation for the much-anticipated speech by Ignacio Ramonet. This occasion marked Ramonet's return to Morocco, a country he has come to adopt as his own after years of traversing Europe and Latin America, where he mingled with various leftist leaders, especially in Cuba and Venezuela.
On that memorable Wednesday, April 15, the 83-year-old journalist was not there to deliver just another speech; rather, he aimed to illuminate a significant and unsettling transformation occurring within societies, one that quietly redefines norms until its consequences become undeniably apparent.
A Historical Perspective on Communication Transformations
The theme of his discourse may have sounded familiar to some, focusing on journalism grappling with the implications of artificial intelligence and the relentless quest for truth. However, Ramonet quickly distanced himself from merely addressing the contemporary concerns of the moment. Instead, he opted to examine the issue through a broader historical lens. He articulated a compelling argument that the current situation is not simply a technological evolution but a disruption akin to the one initiated by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century. Back then, the advent of the printing press revolutionized the landscape of communication, fundamentally altering societies. Today, we find ourselves entering an epoch characterized by the industrialization of reasoning itself.
This striking comparison underscores a profound truth: every major evolution in communication technology has precipitated significant political transformations. The rise of the printed word catalyzed the emergence of a dynamic press, fueling movements and revolutions. As Ramonet pointed out, the French Revolution's trajectory would have been markedly different without the widespread dissemination and discussion of printed ideas among the public.
Following this historical trajectory, advancements in communication technologies accelerated at an unprecedented pace. The telegraph revolutionized time perception, photography altered our views of reality, and electricity paved the way for the radio and television. Each of these innovations has redefined our understanding of reality and the world around us.
Ramonet emphasized that mass media did not simply appear overnight. For an extended period, the press functioned as a medium of opinion, primarily accessible to a literate elite. It was only after the 1950s that the term "mass" gained its contemporary significance. During this evolution, seminal works contributed to a more nuanced understanding of public opinion—a concept that had not existed before Walter Lippmann’s seminal 1922 publication on the subject. Edward Bernays followed with his influential work, "Propaganda." Together, these texts laid the foundation for Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman's exploration of the "manufacturing of consent" in their 1988 book.
This historical trajectory is far from theoretical. Ramonet drew connections to Nazism, recalling how Adolf Hitler's regime quickly recognized the potential of radio in the 1930s as a medium capable of reaching both individuals and the masses simultaneously. Notably, Bernays’ "Propaganda" served as a reference point for Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi regime.
The Implications of Artificial Intelligence on Journalism
As Ramonet shifted his focus to the current landscape, he refrained from succumbing to alarmism or unwarranted enthusiasm. Instead, he pointed out that the pervasive fears surrounding surveillance often mask a more straightforward truth: we voluntarily expose ourselves. The advent of smartphones, social media, and the phenomenon that Guy Debord termed the "society of the spectacle" has transformed individuals into billions of "Little Brothers," unknowingly serving Big Brother.
He painted a picture of a world that embodies both Orwellian and Huxleyan elements, where control is not solely based on coercion but increasingly relies on consent, and even pleasure. Ramonet provocatively suggested that we are transitioning into a post-media era, where traditional television, once the central medium, is gradually losing its dominance. In the United States, platforms like YouTube have eclipsed traditional networks such as CBS and NBC in viewership, illustrating the dissolution of a centralized media landscape.
In this fragmented and rapidly changing environment, journalism itself is struggling to maintain its footing. Ramonet characterized a progression from journalism "before truth"—the era preceding the two World Wars—to what he termed "post-truth" journalism. It seems as if the earnest pursuit of truth constituted a mere interlude in the lengthy history of information dissemination.
The audience absorbed his insights in contemplative silence, each individual seemingly aware of the profound implications of his assertion: this is not the demise of journalism itself, but rather the disintegration of its previously held certainties.
Outside, the vibrant city of Casablanca continued its rhythm, with lights twinkling in the distance as the call to Maghreb prayer resonated from the Hassan II Mosque. In this cosmopolitan city, one question lingered in the air: what becomes of truth when machines begin to think on our behalf?
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
