Does Citizen Journalism Pose a Danger to Democracy (Essay Sample)

Does citizen journalism pose a danger to democracy?
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Does citizen journalism pose a danger to democracy?
Citizen journalism has risen following the rise of technological innovation such as the internet, and computers (Allan & Thorsen 2009). This means that the public can closely follow the news as it unfolds, and report in the social media or other related websites. Citizen journalism is also called guerrilla, participatory, street or democratic journalism (Castells 2009). This form of journalism entails users or citizens taking an active role in reporting, collecting news information, analyzing data, and disseminating news in their blogs or social media (Castells 2009). This form of journalism forms an alternative platform of communication to mainstream media whereby audiences’ use the available media tools to gather information, and inform others. (Chadwick 2007). The concept of citizen journalism has received both negative and positive criticism. This essay seeks to discuss whether citizen journalism is posing any threat to democracy.
Technology
Technological innovation has paved way for people to create websites, and personal blog where they share news ideas with the public (Putnam 2000). Today, there are many social media, and blogs that people use to share information across the world. Facebook and Twitter has the largest users, and these sites have no restriction in terms of what a person post if it is not harmful or against site security policies. This means that users can share new ideas about unfolding events, and form public agenda and discussion (Chadwick 2006). Since the internet promotes urgency, digital media provide news before television, radio or newspaper reports about them (Chadwick 2006).
Citizen journalism is slowly changing how people access news, and this is affecting mainstream media in terms of audience views percentage (Gillmor 2006). For instance, a person can read or watch news online, and he does not need to sit and watch television news when he gets home. This is because he received news from his laptop, or Smartphone as they unfolded. Today, the price of laptops, computers, phones and ipads has declined, and this is promoting citizen journalism (Goode 2009). In addition, there are many blogs that people use to post and share information such as Indy media citizen Journalism platform (Platon & Deuze 2003). This citizen journalism platform helps users to share news from their respective locations, and promote democracy by fighting impunity (Bimber 1998). Using the hash tag, people can share and discuss news trends that the mainstream media might not disseminate due to censorship or other failures.
Communication crisis
The rise of citizen journalism can be attributed to communication crisis in the mainstream media (Boaden 2008). This means that people are not getting the news when they demand for them, or they are not getting some type of news that promotes democracy. Failure of the press has resulted to the rise of a new structure that seeks to fill the existing gap; how people receive news, and which news they receive. The mandate of the press is to report about news in a truthful manner to ensure credibility. However, there are some forces in the mainstream that affect how journalists from effectual report, and what they tell the public (Blumler & Gurevitch1995). Government and self-censorship are two major communication crises that have led to the rise of a new structure that provide the public with in-depth news without editing or polishing the truth (Magoon 2010).
The aspect of censorship is critical in some cases because it ensures that people receive news that will not cause tension, and havoc. However, there are some cases of censorship that is limits the freedom of media, and this affect how news are gathered and shared in the mainstream media (Magoon 2010). For example, in 2012, Burma blocked international and restricted local media from reporting about some sensitive issues that the government did not want the outside world to know. Burma freedom of media has been suppressed from 1964, and this shows why people in such nations are embracing a new platform that will inform them and promote democracy (Boaden 2008). Information is power and people will go at any length to get the information they seek for to satisfy their hunger for information (Williamson &Ward 2010). Desire to have a democratic nation, and freedom of expression has led to Burmese practicing citizen journalism. Citizen journalism has helped many users share news, and this has changed how news is gathered, and shared.
The rise of citizen journalism can be attributed by the failure of the press in executing its functions accordingly (Scammell 2004). The media has failed in educating and informing the public about political processes because the media has largely concentrated in entertainment (Bennett 1998). This leave the public in darkness hence; people are forced to look for news themselves to feed fellow users in areas such a politics, environment, corporation and insecurity. Thus, people look for alternative sources that have been ushered by the digital era (Barnett, and Gaber 2001).
It is essential to understand that entertainment is a key function of the media, but there should be balance with other functions. Television has shifted their focus to music and fashion, and has undermined political dialogue, and discussion (Dahlgren 2009). This means that the press should take time to educate the public, and act as a watchdog to the government. This will ensure that people in economic, political and social leadership are accountable to actions (Cappella Jamieson 1997). For instance, the media can inform the public about their civil duties such as why people should take part in voting and other leadership elements. More so, the government should be held accountable for corruption, misuse of office, and other political crimes that have now ceased to be highlighted by the press (Gibson &Ward 1998).
The media is also accused of being biased by the government, opposition and corporation (Hindman 2009). For instance, there are some media stations that are against the government, and even when the government does something positive, they only see the negative things; this result to biased news. There are some media stations that support opposition or some corporations, and will only report the good news, and neglect the negative issues. This level of biasness has led to mainstream failure and the emergence of citizen journalism because people have lost trust with the press (Mutz & Reeves 2005).
Citizen journalism and public voices
As a result of press failure in providing factual information, the public have embraced the use of technology to gather, and share news. People want to be heard especially if they are facing some issues such as corruption in their cities, or insecurity (Mortensen 2014). If the media cannot share such vital information, then people are bound to create a new platform that will solve the issue at hand. For instance, the public want to be heard if the government or corporations are about to engage in activities that jeopardize the public such as high taxes or harsh policies. For example, Americans spoke in one voice regarding ending Iraq and Afghanistan invasion from blogs, social media, and public rallies. The popularity of this message caused the government to rethink its invasion and in the end; American soldiers have started to depart from these two nations.
Use of the internet, blogs and social media in Citizen Journalism has made voices of the public to be heard better than while using mainstream media (Patterson 2000). Citizen journalism enables the public to directly link with politicians in their blogs and social media platform, and this enhances growth of democracy. Unlike letters to the editor and phone-in, this new media approach cannot be monitored because everyone has the access to blogs, and social media (Stoker 2006). Hence, people have a better platform to voice their views without limitation from the editor. For instance, newspapers have limited pages and the editor has to look for the best letter to publish, and other hundreds of letters are ignored. However, citizen journalism gives users a platform to share their ideas because it eliminates issues of delay, and publication limitation (Trippi 2004). For instance, a blog has no limitation of number of articles that can be posted, and this means more users seeking for their voices to be heard will embrace citizen journalism idea.
Why this structure
Citizen journalism can fill the gap of lack of voices of public in the mainstream media, and this makes this new idea popular. However, it is critical to note that citizen media and mainstream media are not conflicting (Vaccari 2008). Rather, citizen media supplement mainstream media by providing the media with news items like in the London bombing, and other news where professional journalist are not present when the events unfolds. Citizen journalism is usually accused of critiquing mainstream media, and the fact that its users do not abide by media professional standards such as use of editors (Greenberg 2010). This new media is also facing criticism because it has changed how people receive news. People have now embraced use of social media and tweets for news and this has gradually reduced television viewers and radio audiences significantly (Barnett &Ivor 2001).
Hybrid media
Hybrid media entails the use of both modern and tradition methods of news gathering, and dissemination in order to provide the public with quality news as they unfold (Vaccari 2008). Harmonizing the two media is core to ensure that the public receives news, and is informed accordingly. BBC and other international stations have realized ...