Media Democracy Meets Perez Hilton

We've all seen and heard his name. Most of us have even been on his blog once or twice in our lives, or in a day. He is a facet of our present popular culture. His name is Mario Lavandeira, also known as Perez Hilton. He is a blogger who has created his empire, by writing stories about celebrities, and drawing animation over pictures of these celebrities. His celebrity gossip stories are said to come from "friends" and "acquaintances" he knows in the biz. Isn't it interesting that a kid from the east coast, with a B.A. from NYU in Drama, could make a career out of rumors and doodling over pictures of celebrities? It sounds more like something a seventh grade girl would do in detention. Media democracy has been changing the way media is being molded. Before, we just had shows like Access Hollywood, and Entertainment Tonight. Now, anyone with writing experience and a computer can start a blog about anything they want.

In this creative culture of digital entertainment, we deal with law suits, copyright infringements, and privacy issues. Even Perez Hilton has had his share of these problems. In 2005 he was accused of stealing pictures from other websites to use on his blog. He finally changed his format, and he now cites where each picture comes from. He was also the target of a law suit by a D.J. named Samantha Ronson, whom accused him of writing falsities about her. He won the case, thanks to the amazing first amendment.

The electronic media is running into new issues, because the field is so, well, new. Children of the digital nineties, are growing up to start their own businesses by creating media, just for fun. Perez Hilton started blogging out of the back of a coffee shop on Sunset Boulevard, in Los Angeles, before making it big. He did it for fun, while freelance writing for tabloid magazines. Now he has an online radio broadcast, his own television show, a clothing line, a musical on Broadway based on his character, and he has launched many musical acts into the limelight. If it wasn't for his blog, no one would have heard Katy Perry's pop song that ruled the airways this summer, "I kissed a girl."

Media democracy is changing just as fast as the industry is. With bloggers like Lavandeira , kids who post homemade videos on Youtube, and the social website epidemic (such as Facebook and Myspace), media democracy might not be as relevant an issue as it is right now. It helps protect and promote the everyday person who wants to express themselves via the electronic media. The site Perez Hilton, only proves that there is a new and growing market for hopes and dreams. Just make sure that if you do become a Youtube star, you make friends with Mario Lavandeira, because he might just make you, instead of break you.