Citizen Journalism: The Ups and Downs
Years before social and digital media came to light, the only real news reporting was done by professional journalists. They had the equipment and the means to talk to government officials, communities, and individuals about things happening across the world. But that is no longer the case. With the rise of the internet and social media, citizen journalism has become a large part of the news industry.
Without getting a college degree in journalism and working for a news organization, people across the world have begun reporting news right from their devices. Many post about events and issues they care about on social media and blogs. Others are simply just witnesses to a newsworthy event. They can easily take out their phones and start recording. These are called citizen journalists and they have changed the game for professional news reporters by leaving their mark on the industry as a whole.
First, citizen journalists have created more competition for traditional news outlets. Professional journalists are in a constant race with average people to share news. Instead of always fighting between organizations, now journalists are in competition with each other and average people. This has also created a faster flow of news. It is shared faster and spread to more people in a community. For example, many citizen journalists listen to police scanners or join groups to report things happening near their homes. Then some livestream breaking news or other big events on social media for others to see. With more people sharing news, it is distributed to more people. Citizen journalism has also forced journalists to adapt to the ever changing media landscape. The way people consume news continues to evolve, with a large focus on social media right now. In the Media Literacy: Citzens Journalism report, Susan Moeller says professional journalists now must stay up to date with all new technologies and online platforms to stay relevant and competitive.
The impact citizen journalists have had on the industry is mass, but there are many positive things it has done. It can help reporters find more stories through social media and can share breaking news that professional news outlets can follow up on and get more information from officials to confirm what is happening. Citizen journalists have also covered a wider range of perspectives and voices in the media that vary from the stereotypical reporter. This means more diverse news is covered, especially with stories traditional media outlets would not look into. In addition, the rising trend of citizen reporting has brought more scrutiny on professionals. Average people are calling out journalists on their mistakes and holding them accountable for the information they put out.
There are also some negatives about citizen journalism. First, the accounts or individuals posting content are not held to the same ethical standards of professionals. They are not professionally trained, which can lead to bias and potentially not covering all sides of an argument. There is also a lack of fact checking that can spread misinformation or “fake news”. This misinformation can hurt people or organizations and can lead to legal issues. Another large down side of citizen journalism is the fact that less people are turning to traditional media. Instead of turning on the news or following legitimate sources, they enjoy watching people on social media share their perspectives, which oftentimes have opinions interjected. This is hurting the news industry as a whole and having an impact on the future of organizations.
Citizen journalism is a wide debate over the industry. It helps and harms professional journalists and their careers, but ultimately is something new outlets will have to get accustomed to. With the growth of social media and new platforms being developed, there is no way to tell where amateur journalism will go next.