Introduction: the evolution of speech and technology
The "gatekeepers" of communication
The internet and the circumvention of gatekeepers
The decline of traditional media
The implications for democracy
Will the internet lead to the demise of the "watchdog of democracy?"
The internet and the changing relationship between the media and the public
Media convergence
Fear of governmental meddling, the emergence of new gatekeepers & inundation with information
Conclusion.