Missing: modern "iconoclasts, critics and polemicists". Culprit: media consumption style?

An article in Jakarta Globe titled "The Thinker: In Search of Radical Public Intellectuals" written by Jennie S. Bev triggered some thoughts in my mind that I can relate to today's media consumption. I found it engaging.

Here's an excerpt:
"Radical public intellectuals are on the brink of extinction, especially as modern attention spans grow shorter. Producing knowledge now means real-time deliverance of information through the Internet, and intellectuals might be tempted to reduce their output to such simplification."

I honestly share the same opinion as the author. Although it appears to me that it could be a benefit as I work in the television industry. It's a little bit personal, I know. But really, could this paragraph be the quintessential answer at the top of the article about the whereabouts of today's radical public intellectuals?

I'm interested in knowing the historical roots of how a person can end up being an intellectual had he achieved the state outside the "walls of bricks and mortar' world of academics. If I have to guess, one would still have to read literatures and the works of past great thinkers that stimulate his mind to be able to "form theories through reflection and analysis," as Bev mentioned. Or perhaps in some cases, one doesn't have to. Although I would think it is most likely for someone to having done it in order to reach such stage. Think of Machiavelli, Voltaire, and Kant. Great philosophers and "nonacademic intellectuals".

The thing is, how do even we, academics, get access to philosophical theories these days? As for me, if it's not a part of a required reading from a course, I probably wouldn't have any access to it. That is sad, I know, but I can guarantee I'm not alone. In this new media age where every publication trapped in a competition to win its readers' attention, everything is done to fit the readers' lifestyle. A great deal of the population get their news from the internet these days. Or even news subscription on their cellphone. "Modern attention span grows shorter," and "intellectuals might be tempted to reduce their output to such simplification." I couldn't agree more. But if we use today's media as ways of learning and forming thoughts, does that mean we're not learning that much? I can't say yes to this.

So, perhaps there are other Machiavellis, Voltaires, or Kants out there, but they just have presented their output in different ways, philosophically-speaking.