Citizen Journalism: Where do you stand?
There’s no doubt that it’s become quite a hot topic since the rise of blogs, social media platforms, Wiki pages, open forums and discussion boards. Citizen journalism, which has increased ten-fold over the past few years, is also known as public, participatory, or guerrilla journalism. It’s the act of members of the general public collecting, reporting, and disseminating news and information, which is then accessible to a mass audience.
So the question is: Should these “citizen journalists,” more commonly known as “bloggers” be protected by the same laws as professional journalists? Does the rule of ethical journalism differ from person to person? Should these citizen journalists be held to the same standards as a professional in a court of law? Does this alter the curriculum and rewrite the textbooks when studying Journalism in higher education? Do citizen journalists decrease the credibility of professionals? And lastly, do you think I’m being a total hypocrite now or am I opening up your eyes?
Due to the increase in popularity of tablets, smart phones, 3G networks and Wifi, the ability to transmit news and make it accessible to billions happens at such a fast rate. From your cell phone you can now record a video, edit it with right application, and upload it within minutes. With a quick click of the mouse or tap of the finger your story, video, or photo can be readily available for the world to see.
So while I have a B.A. in Journalism and strong opinions on the matter, I want you to think about it! Where do you stand?
The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
1. Seek the truth and report it
2. Minimize harm
3. Act independently
4. Be accountable
