News: What’s it to you?

Mainstream News and Citizen Journalism

Image: paulgillin/NewsPaperDeathWatch

The news has

always had a large

presence in

everyday life.

Photo: KC Toh/Flickr

With the introduction of social media however, the definition of what the news is, as well as the sources of news have both changed drastically.

Photo: linkedmediagrp/Flickr

The news is becoming more

of a participatory conversation.

Image: OregonDOT/Flickr

Or journalism by non journalists, “refers to individuals playing an active role in the process of collecting,reporting, sorting, analyzing and disseminating news and information—a task once reserved almost exclusively to the news media.” (Lasica, 2003)

Photo:illyjac/Flickr

Many people credit this change to “Citizen Journalism”

The news is now being delivered from many people across multiple platforms.

Image: shapeshift /Flickr

As a result, mainstream news sources are having a tough time holding onto an

audience.

Image: lakewentworth/Flickr

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

These alternative sourcesof media, like mainstream

media, also have bias.

However, we seem to be aware of the biases that

come with personal journalism, but instead of showcasing them like in mainstream journalism,

they are embraced.

Image: dermot_reeve/Flickr

The September 11, 2001 and London Bombings of July 7, 2005 have both been credited with being the first cases of citizen journalism.

Both incidents occurred after the morning newspaper had already been delivered. Photo: Mike Licht NotionsCapital.com/Flickr

Since many news sources were unable to get right to the scenes at the moments the events happened,

citizens present were the ones reporting.

Photo: Mike Gilbert Photography/Flickr

Citizens present in both scenarios quickly found themselves documenting the events by taking photos, video, or blogging. They were posted on the internet for their friends, family, and unbeknownst to them, the world to see.

(Image: Scoopt/BBC News)

Many mainstream news sources were sent an influx of photos that citizens had

taken.

“By lunchtime the BBC had received 5,000 images, and by the end of the day 10,000”-Torin Doublas, BBC News

Photos from London Bombings: 1)Adam Stacey 2) Warren McKenzie/BBC News 3)Annonymus/BBC News

Commenters and fellow bloggers add to the conversation through commenting, or adding multimedia. Thus, the stories are enhanced through different perspectives.

Photo:Dominique K/Flickr

• Have the interest and expertise in a certain field

• No timeline• No regulations on

language• More personal feel• Visually pleasing

Some “pros” of citizen journalism include:

Photo: chigmaroff/Flickr

Photo: besfort z/Flickr

Where does this leave mainstream news media?

On the television, in the paper and online, news sources are always asking for citizens input. Whether it is

through comments, photos and videos, or testimonies.

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News sources have noticed this rise in citizen journalism, & have introduced different news delivery methods across the same platforms citizen journalists and audiences use.

Photo: femiknitter/Flickr

One of the most popular ways is through twitter. This allows for news teams to add more to a story, and to follow up with others. Photo: johnturner/Flickr

This often comes in the form of a online team, or individual reporters having their own twitter account.

Photo: Anthony Quintano/Flickr

Even social media websites, designed for interaction between others, deliver to us in a “news like” fashion:

Facebook - news feedTwitter - headlinesLink enabled, video and photo friendly

Image: Mehfuz Hossain/Flickr

Further, the advent of the smart phone and tablet

has made it even easier for citizens to blog, share, and

connect with traditional news sources.

Photo: 1) PaytonLow/Flickr 2) RobbMontgomery/Flickr

Bloggers tend to use stories from major news organizations and cover them,

therefore strengthening the influence of mainstream media in a sense.

Photo:*KarenT*/Flickr

Some citizen journalists use their blogs to watch over the mainstream news to point

out incorrect or missing information.

Photo: JSF /Flickr✯

The question is, if citizen journalists are keeping tabs on mainstream news, who is looking over the citizen journalists?

Can we really give them as much or more credibility than mainstream news?

Photo:Frozen Canuck/Flickr

What do you think? Does the power to deliver news rest on citizens, or

the mainstream news? Or it is more give and take?

Photo: basheertome/Flickr

Kaitlin RossFilm 315sMay 20, 2011

Photo: kevindooley/Flickr