Information technology and the advent of the Internet have made some dramatic advances in journalism. As the distribution mediums are evolving heavily in digital spaces, so are the modes of reporting. Now citizens play an active role in frequent contributions to the mainstream news.
We have observed this immense growth in the last 15 years with the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. Previously internet was online pages containing information. With the popularity of social media and other online platforms, it became easier for content consumers to create content creators as well.
This gave way to a news flow that was more two-way and people could share their thoughts and ideas with each other. The smartphone also benefited citizen journalism a great deal, with the ability to record and share on the go. Thus started a new wave of awareness and discussion among the masses that wielded a lot of power.
Now citizen journalism is an international phenomenon in news media contributing heavily to the flow of information. It has been an instrument of social change and news transparency. A reliable internet connection keeps you informed and helps you share that information with your circle and community. Cox Communications offers a steady connection with high speeds that keeps you in the loop without lag.
Let’s dive deeper into what we know about citizen journalism, the virtues, and the implications of widespread information dissemination.
What is Citizen Journalism?
Citizen journalism is the kind of journalism that is not done on mainstream channels of information, however, it operates relatively freely among the masses. It is when regular citizens see something and report on it in a blog, websites, and most importantly, on social media.
The term came into its own in South Korea when Yeon-ho, an online entrepreneur, declared that every citizen is a reporter. He released his own news website called OhMyNews in 2000 deeming the conventional press insufficient.
Role of the Internet in Propagating Citizen Journalism
We have come a long way since 2000. The internet gave birth to countless news websites, blogs, and social media websites that facilitate online news content sharing. This empowered the news consumers to become news providers.
Due to a decline in readership because of these platforms, mainstream news outlets also started their own websites and blogs. Some newspapers urged the citizens to contribute newsworthy material from their localities. There was a significant trend of “Hyperlocal” news content from their neighborhoods and other niche subjects that larger networks and press enterprises did not cover.
Social media has cultivated a rich tapestry of dialogue and discourse online. You get to explore and debate on various viewpoints. This landscape has evolved over time incorporating different media and technologies. In addition to blogs, newsworthy Twitter and Facebook posts also started to gain citizen journalism status.
YouTube also played an important role in starting citizen journalism vlogs and soon the debate also shifted to audio channels like podcasts and Twitter spaces. Instagram reels are also an impressive tool of information flow.
Like everything else, citizen journalism also has its pros and cons. Let’s discuss some of them and find out more.
Benefits of Citizen Journalism
Citizen journalism wields a lot of power which has made the public prefer citizen-run outlets. Some of its virtues are:
- Faster time to market since citizen journalism operates on the go in the absence of a newsroom and proximity to the event.
- Acts as a whistleblower for public interest.
- Covers all aspects of a story that mainstream news fails to report on by verifying, correcting, and adding to it.
- Gives visibility to marginal communities or smaller towns that mainstream news misses out on through higher accessibility.
- Focuses on community issues and challenges that matter and are often ignored by network news and press.
- Carries global influence and non-localized due to the international community and their online interactions.
- Operates independently, free of powerful stakeholders who hold the power to censor news or misinform for personal interest.
- Offers a unique perspective on news because of the diversity of citizen reporters
Drawbacks of Citizen Journalism
While the benefits of citizen journalism are undeniable, it presents its own challenges and implications. Some of the drawbacks of citizen journalism are:
- Not always credible because it is devoid of fact-checking protocols that conventional media outlets follow.
- Limited audience because it is confined to people who use social media avidly. Citizen journalists often do not have the tools to get the word out to larger audiences.
- Hard to differentiate between facts and opinions. A citizen journalist is prone to subjectivity and incorporating their own values and thought process in their content.
- Often misused for individual interests.
Whether citizen journalism is a beneficial or detrimental tool is a controversial debate. With the advancing technology citizen journalism is gaining even more velocity and effect. Regulating citizens is not easy because of the volume of information. At the end of the day, the efficacy of online journalism boils down to the personal accountability of the person reporting.