The current state of journalism in the United States has cultivated a league of irreverence towards journalists and the product they regularly produce to the masses. Distrust in the media has reached record highs in recent years with the growth of Internet use aiding consumers' vetting skills. Many have come to realize that ratings are what takes priority in today's mainstream media in order to maintain a steady flow of viewership and product consumption.

Its this distaste for mainstream, establishment media birthed what is now considered on of the pioneers of online journalism and political commentary, YouTube's "The Young Turks."

Premiering on Valentine's Day in 2002, host Cenk Uygur launched the Sirius Radio format of one of today's most popular online news outlets, which now garners tens of thousands of viewers during it's live broadcasts. Whether people agree with it's progressive outlook or not, the show did what many couldn't achieve before within the boundaries of televised and mass produced journalism: the show looked to provide a voice for the many, not for the few.

Joining the online community in 2006 with their now-world famous YouTube program gave journalism the reboot it needed, although the establishment media still refuses to back down from it's current agenda. Since then, the popularity of online news and political analysis atmosphere spread like wildfire.

The presence of online news-making and journalism has blossomed in recent years, parallel to the rising success and influence of The Young Turks both as a network and a program. The Internet has become one of the biggest assets for writers and journalists alike in gaining traction among a sea of prospective public spokesmen. Outlets such as blogs and The Odyssey Online prove up-and-coming writers a platform for their voice and product, especially those working towards more serious journalism careers.

It's these critics that feel as if the Internet licenses it's users too large of a voice in matters they feel are not within the average user's scope of analysis, allowing those without an informed opinion to spew whatever opinion they might posses with the potential for it to go viral. They see the online news revolution as an attack on journalism as a profession, devaluing thousands of journalism degrees earned by students for decades.

But don't be mistaken. The Internet is not threatening the jobs and livelihoods of practiced journalists, but rather providing a space for people to have their voice and opinions heard, whether the public chooses to validate them or not. Journalism is simply taking advantage of the Internet and it's rapid rise in popularity. News can now connect people of all ages from all backgrounds through current events, which is what journalism ultimately aims to achieve.

The Young Turks is a perfect example of what can come from independent media with just a little bit of elbow grease and determination.