Citizen Journalism: A fad or here to Stay?

 

Imagine a situation where you wake up one fine morning to realize that only you have absolute control over the information you possess. Also, you have the full discretion to choose among whom such information be shared. Sounds cool, doesn't it?

In an age where information travels faster than ever and people have become global advocates of free speech; a new form of journalism has evolved. It is called ‘Citizen Journalism’. Anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection can now influence public opinion. So, what was touted to be the jobs of trained and intellectual journalists has now slowly permeated into the hands of common citizens- me and you! Be it any personal experience or any incident that has happened in your vicinity; the world is ready to listen in just one click.

While this introduction may form a positive and optimistic opinion; we aim to unravel several facets along with the potential pros and cons that citizen journalism offers.

What is Citizen Journalism ?

Citizen journalism was conceptualized by media baron Dan Gilmore in his documentary We the Media (2004). It is a new-age form of journalism involving ordinary individuals making news accessible and providing a platform for diverse voices to be heard. Through social media platforms like X (formerly , Twitter), Facebook, Instagram Threads, Tumblr and Meibu; commoners can actively participate in collecting, reporting, and disseminating news which is important and relevant as per them. This phenomenon has the following features as under:

• Counter-Narrative to Traditional Journalism: It involves non-professionals who share events on social media that prioritize specific interests.

• Citizen Empowerment: It empowers individuals to share information on a ‘real-time basis’.

•  Community Engagement: Be it the Russia-Ukraine War or the Israel-Palestine conflict or even the 2024 US Presidential Elections; people flocked to their social media accounts to show their support/dissent on such issues.

•  Shaping Public Opinion: Active participation with the common public through comments and replies on posts often enhance the credibility and quality of citizen journalism.

•  Promote Accountability: Offensive, abusive content and rumors can be reported immediately to the servers who take immediate action by deactivating such accounts; making users accountable to some extent.

Thus, citizen journalism offers a platform for diverse voices and community engagement. However, it also raises concerns pertaining to the spread of false information/rumors. This is because it is impractical to assess the quality and ethical standards of the information disseminated.

 

Emergence of Citizen Journalism

While the concept was popularized by CEO of Tesla and X, Elon Musk in late 2018; citizen journalism gained prominence in the early 2000s itself. Several blogs were formed using Orkut! and private domains which provided grassroot information to the entire world.The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is one such example where survivors and bystanders used mobile phones to share images and videos of the disaster, long before mainstream news outlets could cover the event. 2005 London Bonbings and 2008 Mumbai Attack are also some glaring examples where commoners were ahead of traditional media in covering events that act like scars to these cities even now. Hence, this type of journalism departs from the traditional media in three key parameters - technology, wider reach/ accessibility and unregulated environment.

 

The Curious Case of X (Twitter)

Twitter, now rebranded as X, has been an important tool which has revolutionized the way people consume information. With its 280-character limit (now expanded in premium versions) along with instant hashtags; X has become a primary source for breaking news for many people. Not only that, one can post multimedia content and share it to the platform's 600 million monthly active users in just a few seconds ! Here are some key takeaways of the underlying trends of X:

 

• The user base of X expanded exponentially after the COVID-19 pandemic with users publicly tagging businesses, persons or even government departments to obtain their attention.

• X has become so powerful that in case of any dissatisfaction over a service; users tend to post their experience on social media first and then lodge a formal complaint!

• A single tweet or thread can spark global conversations, mobilize social movements, and even pressure governments or corporations to take action.

•  The Hashtag feature of X has created a ‘snowball effect’ that can make content go viral in seconds. They often reflect what people feel on a real-time basis.

• The content along with hashtags are categorized as per their geographical boundaries or genre by the X algorithm. Such algorithms silently study the user and only show content that excites him/her.

Hence, information is personalized and democratized so that people can shape,alter and develop mass opinion directly from anywhere across the world.

Public Narratives on X through the pages of history

One of the underlying aspects of social media is the rapid flow of information and their ability to shape narratives, sometimes for better or for worse. The viral nature of Twitter means that a single tweet can turn a local issue into an international debate, forcing people to reconsider their opinions or take action. Here are the prominent movements that became viral on X which involved mass public participation:

 

HASHTAG MOVEMENT	TIMELINE	PERTINENT ISSUE	ENGAGEMENT (in users/no. of tweets)
#Tsunami2004	December 2004	Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami	500k + (after the event)
#OccupyWallStreet	2011-12	Occupy movements against economic inequality and injustice	2 million +
#BlackLivesMatter	2013- present	Racial justice protest in the United States	30 million +
#MeToo	2017-present	Sexual harassment and casting couch in the entertainment industry	5 million +
#FridaysforFuture	2018-present	Conceptualized by environmental activist Greta Thunberg for a ‘green future’	10 million +
#COVID19	2020-present	Perils and mismanagement during the pandemic; currently shifted to ills of LONG COVID	100 million (approx)

#BLM	2020-present	BLACK LIVES MATTER Movement renewed after the previous hashtag crashed globally (following George Floyd’s death)	20 million +
#FreePalestine	2021	Reports on the conflicts and Gaza protests	10 million +
#USElections2024	2024	Public speculation, excitement and deliberations on the US Presidential Elections	12.4 million (approx.)

 

Not only these, but people also engaged on a global scale in events that also shook the sports, entertainment and music industry. Be it India winning the 2011 and 2024 World Cup or the untimely death of Black Panther Chadwick Boseman and the recent demise of singer Liam Payne, users became united and voiced their opinions for such incidents too.

The Dark Side of Citizen Journalism

Does this sound familiar ?

“Floyd Mayweather wore Hijab to Donald Trump Rally”

This fake news article quickly spread on social media, during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and people took it seriously.

 

Citizen journalists often face significant ethical considerations and challenges while reporting on sensitive or controversial topics. These challenges arise from the lack of formal training, the potential for misinformation, and the moral dilemmas present in their reporting practices. The prominent moral and ethical loopholes of citizen journalism are listed as under:

• Citizen journalists often lack the professional training that traditional journalists receive, thus, contaminating the established reporting standards.

• Due to the fast-paced nature; social media can become the breeding ground for rumors, half-truths, and outright lies.

•  This absence of control can result in the spread of unverified information, which can spark social tensions and panic, say, the 2015 South African xenophobic attacks.

• Furthermore, ethical concerns arise when citizen journalists prioritize speed over accuracy and credibility of their reports.

• Citizen journalists often encounter moral dilemmas in sensitive issues like that of sexual assault. Due to the social setup, users often ponder whether to intervene in a situation or simply report it to the authorities.

• Also, the X algorithm tends to amplify content that is sensational and emotionally charged, ignoring relevance. For example, during the U.S. Presidential Election, numerous fake stories and manipulated images spread across Twitter with the sole purpose of maligning the candidates.

• Lastly, online harassment and cyberbullying is a peril of modern society. Journalists, activists, and ordinary users alike have faced threats, doxxing, and bullying just for sharing their perspectives or documenting events.

While citizen journalism can empower individuals to share critical information, it also raises significant ethical concerns. Hence, it is right to say that it is a double edged sword. There must be a balance between freedom of expression and ethical responsibility in the evolving landscape of journalism. As we move forward, it is our sole responsibility to navigate this new era of information with care, integrity, and a commitment to truth.

Blog is written by Nidhi and soham 

Reference:

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/citizen-journalism
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-citizen-journalism-across-media-platforms-isabella-estelle.
• https://www.thegeostrata.com/post/rise-of-alternative-media-and-citizen-journalism?utm_source=perplexity.
• https://www.science.org/content/article/fake-news-spreads-faster-true-news-twitter-thanks-people-not-bots.
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag_activism#:~:text=%23YesAllWomen,-Main%20article:%20YesAllWomen&text=YesAllWomen%20is%20a%20Twitter%20hashtag,the%202014%20Isla%20Vista%20killings.