A Citizen Journalist
A citizen journalist is a person who writes or records news stories for publication, usually online. This is sometimes done through blogs, but can also be through video recording. Citizens often use social media to distribute information about events in their community and share photos.
Importance of Citizen Journalism
Citizen journalists can create a sense of identity through their journalism, as well as provide important information for the public. This helps to build a more informed population, and can also encourage people to follow news-related topics.
Types of Citizen Journalism
There are many different kinds of citizen journalism, but most involve non-professional journalists using social media to communicate news stories. Some examples include videos of protests posted on YouTube or a Twitter account.
Challenges of Citizen Journalism
Despite the fact that citizen journalism is growing in popularity, there are still some issues to be aware of. These issues include the ability of amateurs to misrepresent information and create fake news. They also lack proper legal training and may violate libel law.
In addition, citizen journalists often lack the resources and experience to properly verify and edit their own work. They also don't have to answer to an editor or fact check before publishing, which means that the information they are sharing could be inaccurate.
This can be problematic for some citizen journalists, as it can lead to their work being ignored by the public. It can also cause them to be criticized for their work, as it can be seen as biased.
The Power and Impact of Citizen Journalism
The media is a very powerful tool, but it can also be used in a negative way. For example, it can be used to spread misinformation and disinformation, which is a serious problem in many countries around the world.
For example, during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, citizen journalists shared their opinions and perspectives about President Hosni Mubarak on Facebook. This helped to spark the revolution and ultimately lead to the downfall of Mubarak.
Some citizen journalists use the internet as a platform for sharing information, but some are more interested in creating films and television programs. This can be a great way to tell a story, but it can also be very time consuming and expensive.
Citizen journalism has come a long way since Abraham Zapruder’s video of the 1963 Kennedy assassination. This type of amateur reporting has also played a huge role in bringing awareness to AIDS in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as members of the LGBTQ+ communities shared their observations and needs regarding the disease.
Societal Impact and Research
Moreover, citizen journalism has been shown to have an impact on society by helping people get a better understanding of the world and their place in it. It has also been proven to have an impact on political attitudes and voting patterns.
As citizen journalism continues to grow, it is vital to understand the nature of the phenomenon and how it relates to social factors such as gender and ethnicity. Researchers can study the psychological effects of citizen journalism and its societal impact through various methods such as surveys, triangulation, and interviews.
