In order to answer this question, I must define what is a citizen journalist.
Most media analysts agree that a citizen journalist is an everyday person who contributes information to the news media via photos, videos, comments or general feedback.
A “professional journalist” is someone who collects information about current events, people, issues and attempts to present it in an objective way.
So can these two worlds collide? I believe so.
Lets first look at the importance of this new phenomenon – citizen journalism – is it necessary and what is its underlying objective?
Given the popularity of mobile phones especially “smart phones”, Androids, iphones etc it is possible to capture a moment of history at our fingertips. For example the 2004 tsunami in South Asia, the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the recent Haitian earthquake were all said to be captured by citizen journalists. And with the advent of and increasing popularity of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Snapfish, Stumble Upon, Digg, Delicious etc. the world has seen how easy, fast and magnificent it is to upload a photo or video. A picture can literally reach around the world instantly.
Internationally, it was a normal everyday citizen that captured the first devastating plane crash of September 11, 2001. In Trinidad and Tobago, citizen journalists do their part everyday by taking photos of social ills such as uncollected garbage bins, accidents, flooding, leaking water mains, traffic violations and even physical altercations, and sending it to the television stations and newspapers. In fact the three major television stations – TV6 (U Report), CNC3 and CNMG (C Report) – each carry a segment dedicated to citizen journalism.
Even the prevalence of blogs – like blospot.com, thoughts.com, weblogs.com and the increasing popularity of Twitter.com has taken citizen journalism to a whole new level. Citizens can now present their own views on whatever topic they deem important. It is no longer limited to Letters to the Editor and interviews.
Having been involved in the media for several years I agree that citizen journalism plays an integral role in society and this is evident since Trinidad’s television stations dedicate important airtime to videos and photos from citizen journalists. However it would be remiss of me not to mention my wariness with regards to the prevalence of inaccurate material. In addition, bloggers and Twitter users may present a biased view and my concern is that once an audience consumes information, they may believe it.
All in all, I agree with http://www.net.educause.edu/ which states “citizen journalism present a more personal nuanced view of events and has the potential to cultivate communities of people with a common interest.”
Both citizen journalists and professional journalist can work together to ensure quality journalism, but of course like everything there must be checks and balances.
What do you think? Can citizen journalists and professional journalists work side by side?
Also feel free to send in your photos and videos to dsituationroomtt@gmail.com and you may be featured on this blog!
Posted by BK
this is a situation i have been pondering for awhile. journalist print or tv is 'suppose' to deliver news with unbiased opinions and such, but as i look @ the news these days that seems to not be the case, also there is a compensation issue as the 'citizens' journo is presenting footage free of charge, what will be the position of the already trained under appreciated photogs that is hired by these media companies?
ReplyDeletealthough it is a great asset to the companies to have the ability recieve any photo or video or story from any part of the globe at the blink of an eye without having to pay lol but there must be a substancial balance, otherwise
journos will become just editors to spell check and make sure the citizen journo hasn't used any bad grammer and to appear at business conferences.
Gone are the days of snitches...ahem i mean sources. The citizen journo is a good thing and a bad thing in Trinidad ... going by the patterns that i have seen with these media companies and what is happening now with some, it just might make some jobs obsolete... why pay for it when u r getting it for free lol
Hi Mischief Media. Thank you for the feedback. I have read with interest your comment because I never felt that photographers felt any "threat" to citizen journalists as the news photographer cannot be everywhere at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the compensation issue - it is my view that most citizen journalists do not expect to be paid for their submissions - they are most likely at the right place at the right time - for example the 9/11 attack on the WTC. It was a citizen who was filming a documentary that captured the first footage.
I am not saying that there are those who do not ask for compensation for their photos or videos, but the reality is that even if a news outlet does not pay for that particular footage or photo, the citien journalist will find another avenue like Facebook. Flickr or Twitter.
I believe the job of photographers and photojournalists are still secure.
I agree with what was said before, mischief m has a good point. At the end, i think it should be more of an encouragement rather than a "threat" to the professional journalist. In my opinion i see it as a great opportunity which has a lot of advantages such as getting more issues covered, published, increase in awareness to the general public etc. At the end of the day its a plus for the people, the more informed they are, the greater the comments and concern expressed and who knows, maybe the issues would be resolved faster. Its so common today that most individuals either have a camera, cellphone or some device which can capture the unusual or special moments at any point and time. Obviously its not their field and quality may not be of the best, but its something in the spur of the moment which can say a lot. If they choose to share it with the media and they air it on the news the citizen should be happy and thankful, i mean just for the fun of it, you were there first and its your piece of work, how much can they ask for? On the other hand if the citizen sees great value in it there's no harm in negotiation.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we all just get along :-P
ReplyDeleteThere is a place for both professional journalism and the everyday person's view point. No need to turn our noses up at amateur reporters, because as the original post stated, amateurs can capture really important news.
However you got to give professionals with contacts the respect they deserve. Blogging and citizen reports are not gonna take the place of newspaper dailies or the evening news now are they?
"Citizen Journalist" = an oxymoron if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI like the way BUZZ put it...let's get along and there is a place for both professional journalism....I think that we can work together as a team both directly in media and not professionally in media,,,that way an objective, well-structured story can be published/aired
ReplyDeleteCitizen journalists definitely have a place in today's world. They're here to stay! I think journalists will work well with CJ's after all...there's an already existing harmony between them. Let's be honest..there is hardly a profession where one single person can get the job done! Look at the Ministers in the Present Government. Most of them have been placed in Ministerial portfolios in which they have no prior knowledge. They however get the job done because of a heavy reliance on a team of technical staff and advisers. In the same way Journalists can put out a final product working with Citizen Journalists.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the feedback. I agree with you all. Both citizen journalists and professional journalists can work together. My concern is the accuracy of information (which both groups fall short in). But of course with proper checks and balance this could be remedied.
ReplyDeleteKeep the feedback coming. I am very interested in what my readers think. BK
To answer your title, yes we can live in the same world because numbers cannot exist without the alphabet and vice-versa. With two quality of info coming together it produces a great story.
ReplyDeleteI would start by going as far as saying citizen journalists and professional journalists HAVE to live in the same world! Journalists, for me, especially in the Caribbean, have failed to deliver to the people living outside the capital cities of their respective countries. For instance, Mayaro, Biche and Icacos of Trinidad have failed to get the past government's attention. These people in turn, have to fend for themselves and bring themselves and their homes to the spotlight. I'm journalist, and you're a journalist too, ( by profession) and you know the type of poverty that wreaks this nation, but we'd much prefer to go Kamla's press conference, drink free scotch and eat free lamb. I know you do it, cause I do it too. Why? Because we're Trinis, easy work is our type of work. Citizen journalists aren't qualified, but they sure bring a great story, don't they?
ReplyDelete