Citizen Journalist vs. Professional journalism
Sophisticated gadget allows citizen to cover a newsRichard Sambrook (2005) in his article titled “Citizen Journalism and the BBC” reports that within six hours exactly after London Bombing on 5 July 2005, BBC received more than 1,000 photographs, 20 pieces of amateur video, 4,000 text messages, and 20,000 emails, which were used to report the London Bombing tragedy. Those came from eye witnesses.
According to article by Yehonathan Tommer (2007) titled “The Journalist of the Future is Here”, he examines that ordinary citizens together with their sophisticated gadgets such as cell phone, a Skype telephone communication, a digital camera and computer e-mail access to broadband and satellite, have delivered the new statement that everyone can be a journalist, even without graduated from any particular education institution. Supported by this digital era which offers unlimited information, allow the citizens to post information through internet connection in a few minutes only. Tommer also points out that citizen journalists will replace the traditional staff reporter with a regular domestic beat or the correspondent.
According to article by Yehonathan Tommer (2007) titled “The Journalist of the Future is Here”, he examines that ordinary citizens together with their sophisticated gadgets such as cell phone, a Skype telephone communication, a digital camera and computer e-mail access to broadband and satellite, have delivered the new statement that everyone can be a journalist, even without graduated from any particular education institution. Supported by this digital era which offers unlimited information, allow the citizens to post information through internet connection in a few minutes only. Tommer also points out that citizen journalists will replace the traditional staff reporter with a regular domestic beat or the correspondent.
In my opinion the citizen journalist is another journalism form which has the same importance with traditional reporter or reporter who is hired by news agencies and the newsworthiness of news that is immediacy of news can be depending on the participation of citizen journalist.
Advocates of citizen journalism suggest that media reporters and journalists do not possess exclusive or ultimate knowledge about a topic.
However, citizen journalism has its controversies. Professional journalists argue that only trained journalist can appreciate the ethics of the profession. Ethical publishing demands that reporting an event or breaking news should be done objectively. In order words, a reporter must downplay emotions/personal opinions when reporting or blogging. A journalist or a writer of an article must look at an issue on the face-of-it (ojr, 2005).
References:
Lasica, J.D, 2003, What is Participatory Journalism, Online Journalism Review, [online], viewed 18 November 2009.
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1060217106.php
Tommer, Y 2007, The Journalist of the Future is Here, Ohmynews International, viewed 18 November 2009.
Sambrook, R 2005, Citizen Journalism and the BBC, Nieman Reports, [online], viewed 18 November 2009.
<http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050712glaser/>, AUSC Annenberg, Online Journalism Review, viewed 18 November 2009
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