In
attempting this question, it is imperative that we discuss certain
terminologies relative to the assignment and within the context of the
assignment. That said, now the question, what is citizen journalism?
According
to Wikipedia, citizen journalism is based upon public citizens playing an
active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analysing and
disseminating of news and information. Similarly, Courtney C. Radsch defines
citizen journalism as an alternative and activist form of news gathering and
reporting that functions outside mainstream media institutions.Citizen journalist
promotes human right and democratic values as a result of the elements in which
they operate, such as, open publishing that is audience publishing freely on
the various websites and social networks using their mobile phones to publish
news items of their choice.Citizen journalists are not trained journalists,
however, with easy access to the internet, it has become less a challenge for
citizen journalists to collect, write and disseminate news and information.
Traditional
media also known as ‘old media’ or ‘legacy media refers to the means of
communication and expression that have existed before the advent of a new
medium of the internet; industries that are generally considered part of this
are broadcast and cable television, radio, movies and music studies, newspaper
magazines, books and most print publications. Traditional journalist activities
are known worldwide and are protected by legal professional laws, code and
ethics.
Additionally,
citizen journalists have even had it easier with the introduction of social
media. Social media is a countless array
of internet based tools and platforms that increase and enhances the sharing of
information. Initially, the internet was for a selected few; however the
internet can now be used by many since modern cellular phone comes with the
ability to access the internet; even more, the ability to be connected using
social media. This is so because social media has made it easy among internet
users to transfer and share text, photographs, audio, video and also chat.
Having said that, it is important that I add that social media has come to be
extremely relevant to the work of a citizen journalist.
In
contemporary times, the citizen journalist does not need all those
sophisticated cameras and materials. This is so because everything he needs is
in the modern phone; because of this, everyone has the means to report about
what goes on around them. The most basic phone has a camera and as such has
become so simple to port images, video and text to social media sites.As a
result, platforms like linked-in, facebook and twitter have created online
communities where people can share as much or as little personal information as
they may desire with other members of the online community. The result is a
large amount of information that can be easily shared, promoted, disputed and
created. Social bookmarking tools and news sites such as reddit, dig, delicious
and other sites make finding specific information, images and websites
increasingly simple by assigning individual sites or ‘tagging’ them with
searchable keywords.
According
to Chris measures, “controlling how news is reported and disseminated is extricable
linked to power. That’s why dictatorships have always censored or removed the
free press and run television stations with a rod of iron. Fortunately, most
countries have moved away from situation especially with the adoption of
democracy, hence the media has also been liberalized. This means that with the
media liberalization, citizen journalism has become a central part of the
opening up of reporting to everyone. As a result, citizen journalist - ordinary
people doing the job of reporters can be seen everywhere.
The
question is do they have a place in the practice of journalism? And the answer
is a big yes. I will explain with another question: How does citizen
journalist, using social media affect the activities of traditional media
productions? Citizen journalists have become extremely important to the media
fraternity.
According
to Chris measures “particularly in straightened times, journalist can’t be
everywhere at once and often arrive after
news event has actually happened” he says “in many cases such as the Arab
spring, journalist can be banned or censored by regimes and individuals that do
not want stories to be reported. So citizen journalist with camera phones can
be our first source of first-hand information. Much of this then feeds into our
traditional media with television news and national newspapers running stories
based on reports filled by citizen journalists”
Additionally,
since contemporary time can be characterized by frequent out breaks of war –
civil and international, the world of a citizen journalist comes to bare. This
is even more so when it has to do with the security of their journalist of the
media house. It comes down to the use of citizen journalist who may even be
victims at war and other occurrences.
Consequently,
media houses today have come up with a repertoire et strategies in order to
engage citizen journalist that might have information they may need. A classic
example of such strategies includes the use of social media. Social media has
become a platform where news and information can be transferred and shared.
Media houses today are all linked to one social media or the other. These
social media includes twitter, facebook, whatsapp and many more.
This
has increased the number of citizen journalist globally and also because it has
become increasingly easier to be a citizen journalist.
Moreover,
media house nowadays have come up with phone numbers that people can call to
report any news worthy event or activity. As a result, people call in to report
news worthy phenomena - this means that they get firsthand information before
the reporter is sent to the scene. This event or activity could be an accident,
armed robbery, theft or even a killing. Furthermore, media houses today have
come up with email addresses that could receive messages and news items. This
is all done to enable access to citizen journalist with information.
On
the face of the above, it is rather too clear that professional journalism has
come to terms with citizen journalism. Professional journalism has to some
extent, if not completely, accepted that citizen journalism is a complement and
that it has to come to stay.
Referencing
·
Bailey Socha and Barbara Eber-Schmid new media.org
·
Communication Theory/Network Society wiki book.org
·
Social Media Defined socialmediadefined.org
·
Chris Measures The Rise
of Citizen Journalism, 2013
·
Amanda Cohen amandacohen1228.wordpress.com,
2011
·
Media Musing mediamusigs.com.rmit.edu.au
, 2011
