Citizen Journalism News Literacy What is citizen journalism

Citizen Journalism News Literacy

What is citizen journalism? The collection and distribution/publication of information by the general public, especially via the Internet.

Examples 1. Capturing an event on your cell phone camera 2. Writing a blog that analyzes news media coverage 3. Posting your own account of an event on Facebook 4. Contributing to online media accounts via sites like Reddit or Storify

Compare & Contrast Professional journalists Citizen journalists • • • Have education or specific training in the practice of • Publish via their own means, journalism usually on personal websites or Are employed by a news agency via social media who publishes their work • Have no specific training Are generally paid for their work • Are generally not paid for their work

Other differences Codes of Ethics • Professional journalists usually • • abide by a code of ethics Ethics help journalists remember the best practices of their profession, including to seek truth, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable (Society of Professional Journalists) Citizen journalists don’t necessarily follow codes of ethics Motivations • Professional journalists seek to • • provide information that is of high public value They try to hold people accountable, and provide facts, evidence, and context Citizen journalists can have varied motivations, some good and some bad

Judge says bloggers aren’t journalists When a popular blogger was sued in 2011 for claiming a local lawyer was a thief and a liar, an Oregon judge ruled that she was not a journalist. What did the judge say was the difference?

Journalists: • • • adhere to journalistic standards such as editing, fact-checking, etc. create an independent product rather than assemble the writings and postings of others contact ‘the other side’ to get both sides of the ruling

The result? The judge ruled in favor of the lawyer, and ordered the blogger to pay $2. 5 million in damages sustained to the lawyer’s professional reputation.

Good citizen journalism Provides missing information, allows for quick updates, and enables local, on-the-spot reporting

Example When the “Dark Knight” shooting occurred at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, citizens used the Reddit website to post as much information as they could find about what was happening.

Poor citizen journalism Adds speculation without verification, dramatizes events, and doesn’t hold people accountable for their information.

Example During the Boston Marathon bombings, users posted photos to Reddit in the hopes of helping police catch the bombers. Instead, citizen journalists launched a witch hunt for what turned out to be innocent bystanders.