EOTO #2-Citizen Journalism

                                       CITIZEN JOURNALISM 

       Citizen Journalism is when average citizens work to obtain and disseminate newsworthy 

information to the general public.  The history of citizen journalism dates back to the late 18th century 

when Thomas Paine published his pamphlet titled "Common Sense," which championed for liberation 

from Great Britain.  In the pamphlet, Paine methodically articulated his rationale for an egalitarian 

government.

                                      




                                        PRE-INTERNET ERA

     Prior to the invention of the Internet, there were limited mechanisms for members of the general 

public to produce newsworthy information; Only professional journalists were granted access to 

technological resources to deliver news to worldwide audiences.  Therefore, average citizens had the 

option of either writing letters to editors or mailing zines.

                                        WHAT ARE ZINES?

     Zines are self-published pamphlets that address a range of topics, such a politics, music, art, 

literature, etc.  They were especially prevalent among oppressed groups who were determined to voice 

their opinions and ideologies.  In addition to writing, Print zines often entailed illustrations, graphics 

and collages, which enhanced their creativity and attracted more consumers.  

                               

                                       POST-INTERNET ERA

     As technology continues to evolve, citizens now have the capacity to deliver news to large 

audiences via phone, computer, etc.  Social media has recently become a common medium for 

disseminating news to viewers.  In fact, U.S. newspapers are gradually becoming obsolete by virtue of 

the advancement of the Internet as a communications strategy.

     Members of the mainstream media have begun implementing aspects of citizen journalism into their 

publications.  For instance, Journalists who write blogs and update Twitter accounts often incorporate 

ways for their audiences to share their perspectives and feelings.  

     Citizen Journalists are expected to abide by the same principles as professional journalists in order 

to be deemed credible.  Some of these standards include identifying sources, fact checking, offering 

diverse perspectives on an issue and refrain from making libelous statements.  

                                    


                        ADVANTAGES OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM

     1.) Individuals have an opportunity to refute, clarify, and incorporate information.  There are 

instances where the mainstream media only provides a one-sided version of the story to the public and 

withholds other essential details.

     2.) Average citizens in local or small communities are able to articulate news to a worldwide 

audience that the media otherwise would not cover

    3.) People from diverse backgrounds and cultures can discuss issues that are crucial to them.  This is 

also a great way to educate the general public about societal issues and how they can get involved in 

their communities.

                                              


                    DISADVANTAGES OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM

     1.) Citizen Journalism sometimes creates uncertainty of which news information is accurate and 

inaccurate.  People now have the luxury of writing or posting anything they want, which creates 

confusion over what is factual.

     2.) News is typically distributed through social media, which deters non-social media users from 

accessing it.

     3.) It is difficult to discern facts versus opinions.  Citizen Journalists who incorporate their own 

beliefs and biases into their stories might influence their audiences into accepting their perspective as 

the truth without analyzing the information further.

                                              


                                            MY COMMENTARY

     As an aspiring Journalist, I think citizen journalism is a perfect way for me to gain experience 

delivering information through writing, social media, and blogging.  Throughout the process, I 

anticipate to master all the basics I need to know regarding how to include all sides of a story, avoiding 

biased statements, as well as checking factuality.  

     I believe that Citizen Journalism will continue to increase, especially among Generation Z, as we are 

more tech-savvy compared to older generations.  We are also outspoken in many of our beliefs, and we 

take advantage of opportunities to communicate our views to the world.

     Diverse segments of people might take different approaches to citizen journalism.  For instance, 

wealthy citizens might look for ways to promote their businesses, whereas lower-income citizens may 

want to shine the light on struggles they endure.  Minorites also might highlight the issue of racial 

injustice and how it affects their lives on a daily basis.

                         EXAMPLE OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM

     In the aftermath of the 2010 Haitian Earthquake, there were a broad range of media platforms 

disseminating information regarding the magnitude of the catastrophe.  Many eyewitnesses took to 

Twitter posting their account of what transpired, and some Haitians went online to discuss the 

complexity of the earthquake.  Citizen Journalists also sent in reports of additional information to 

CNN. 

                                         


                               

  






      Links: https://people.howstuffworks.com/citizen-journalism.htm 

                 https://citizenjournalistnow.com/index.php/2019/12/20/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-citizen-journalism/

      https://blog.issuu.com/zines-vs-magazines/

       https://archives.cjr.org/the_observatory/new_media_crucial_in_aftermath.php

       https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-citizen-journalism-2073663 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 15-Online Presence

Image
                                    MY ONLINE PRESENCE                                      I first joined social media on my 18th birthday and have been a social media user for a year and a  half now.  Initially, my online footprint was not that large, as I had only joined Facebook, Instagram,  and Snapchat.  I've expanded my online footprint over the past year though, as I recently established a  Twitter and Blogger account, specifically for academic purposes.       As I reflect back on my adolescent years, I am amazed at how I made it through middle and high  school without social media despite that everybody around me used it.       Of all my social media sites, I definitely use Instagram and Facebook the most.  I mainly use  Snapchat to either message my friends or view other people's stories, but I have not posted anything on  my Snapchat story in over a year.  Over the past few months, Facebook and Snapchat have taken a  backseat to Instagram, which has become my most fa
Read more

Blog Post #2-History and Workings of U.S. Supreme Court

Image
                          Overview of the United States Supreme Court      The United States Supreme Court is the most prestigious federal court in the nation and the highest ranking court of the judicial branch.  The Supreme Court, which was formed by the Constitution, maintains absolute authority of all the laws in the country; Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court is tasked with analyzing which laws are deemed constitutional, as well as monitoring the works of the legislative and executive branches of government.                               Early Days of the Supreme Court      The Supreme Court originated from Article Three of the Constitution, which in addition allowed Congress the jurisdiction of establishing lower federal courts.  When the Judiciary Act of 1789 was signed into law, it was decided by the legislative branch that the Supreme Court would be composed of a total of six justices.   Once appointed, Supreme Court justices were permitted to remain on the court for a lifeti
Read more

My top 5 news sources

Image
My top sources of news information include: 1.) New York Times- https://www.nytimes.com/   The New York Times is my primary source of news information, and I read The Times at least three times a week.  Part of what attracted me to The Times was the fact that it tends to have a liberal perspective on many topics, particularly politics.  My political views are also liberal, which is why I acquire a great deal of my information from the New York Times.   I also admire how the New York Times covers a diverse range of topics, including politics, fashion, entertainment, social issues, etc.  My objective as a journalist is to broaden my horizon and stay informed about different events that are transpiring around the world.  Furthermore, The New York Times is easy to read, as the articles are clear, concise, and educational all at the same time.   Recently, I have begun reading more of the op-eds and opinion columns.  I would recommend the New York Times because it is among the top most credi
Read more