Exploring Citizen Journalism: Positive vs Negative Effects Analysis

This essay examines the effects of citizen journalism, arguing that its positive aspects outweigh the negative. It discusses the democratization of journalism, the broadening of news genres, and the simplification of professional journalists' work due to citizen contributions. While acknowledging concerns about the authenticity of citizen-reported news, the essay emphasizes the benefits of increased news accessibility and citizen empowerment in verifying information. The analysis concludes that citizen journalism has revolutionized the field, empowering individuals to share and validate news, thereby enhancing the overall quality and accessibility of information.

Running head: CITIZEN JOURNALISM
Citizen Journalism
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Essay Question: Do the positive effects of the process of citizen journalism outweigh the
negative effects of the same process?
Thesis Statement: The positive effects of the concept of citizen journalism far outweigh the
negative aspects of the same process.
Introduction
The concept of citizen journalism refers to the kind of journalism wherein the common
people or the citizens of a particular nation plays an active role in the gathering of news as
well as reporting of news which was in the earlier times considered only to be the domain of
professional news reporters (Lewis, Holton and Coddington 2014). The concept of citizen
journalism is also called by the name of public journalism, participatory journalism,
street journalism, democratic journalism or guerilla journalism (Lewis, Holton and
Coddington 2014). The journalist Courtney C. Radsch is of the opinion that citizen
journalism can be viewed as an alternative form of journalism wherein the common citizens
take the help of the recent technologies for the collection as well as the reporting of the news
(Suau and Masip 2014). Jay Rosen, on the other hand, is of the opinion that these news
pieces reported by the citizens are inauthentic or inaccurate most of the times and therefore a
cross reference or cross examination with the other sources is imperative to authenticate the
news (Hille and Bakker 2014). However, in the present times it is seen that the process of
citizen journalism has emerged as an important form of journalism and even the professional
journalists are taking the help of the news items reported by the common citizens for the
purpose of reporting in an effective manner (Lewis 2012). Therefore, it would be apt to say
that the process of citizen reporting entails with itself both positive as well as the negative
aspects however the positive sides of the process far outweigh the negative ones.

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First Body Paragraph
a. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
b. How does the writer support the main idea in this paragraph?
c. How does the writer this paragraph?
d. How does the writer link the ideas in this paragraph?
The democratization of the world of journalism is considered to be the major positive aspect
of the process of citizen journalism. J. D. Lasica in the book “What is Participatory
Journalism?” states that the major benefit which the process of citizen journalism provides
to the world of journalism is the fact that it has democratized the field of journalism
(Marchionni 2013). The business of collecting as well as reporting the news and the other
pieces of information in the earlier times was the sole domain of the various professional
journalists (Marchionni 2013). However, with the advent of this particular concept as well as
with the rise of new innovations the field currently includes the news gathered by the private
individuals who had no professional training. The use of this particular type of journalism can
be traced back to Thomas Paine who with his pamphlets furthered the cause of the
“American War of Independence” in the 1770s (Fröhlich, Quiring and Engesser 2012). In the
field of journalism it is generally seen that only the kind of news are being reported which are
likely to enhance the prospects of the particular individual reporting the news and also the
news agency to which he or she is related (Fröhlich, Quiring and Engesser 2012). Thus, it
was seen that many important pieces of news which might have not only attracted the
attention of the people but have impacted them in a significant manner used to go unreported
(Peters and Broersma 2013). However, with the rise of this particular kind of journalism it is
generally seen that the majority of the news pieces whether significant or not are being
reported and get equal representation. The emergence of the various kinds of blogs as well as

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the internet sites where the common people can easily get their articles or news pieces
published has contributed in a significant manner not only towards the rise of this particular
concept but at the same time in the process of democratization of the field of journalism
(Peters and Broersma 2013).
Second Body Paragraph
a. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
b. How does the writer support the main idea in this paragraph?
c. How does the writer this paragraph?
d. How does the writer link the ideas in this paragraph?
The broadening of the genre of journalism is the second major positive aspect of the concept
of citizen journalism. It is a reflection of this particular fact that the people are getting access
to the kind of news which they seldom used to get prior to the advent of the concept of citizen
journalism. As a matter of fact, because of the advent of this particular process the people are
getting access to the various kinds of breaking way before they are being broadcasted by the
leading news channels (Hille and Bakker 2014). A few examples of instances where the news
by the people was disseminated faster than the professional news agencies are “2010 Haiti
earthquake, the 2013 protests in Turkey, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the
Euromaidan events in Ukraine, 2014 Ferguson unrest, Syrian Civil War” and others
(Bulkley 2018). The updates posed by these private citizens in the form of videos as well as
news articles over the electronic media helped in the dissemination of the news over the
globe in a much faster manner. Furthermore, earlier it was seen that only the kinds of news
which affected the global audience or could significantly enhance the prospects of the
concerned reporter or the agency to which he or she was related (Hille and Bakker 2014).

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However, in the present times it is seen almost all kinds of news are getting prominence
starting from the news which are at global or national level to the ones which affect the single
entities of the world as well.
Third Body Paragraph
a. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
b. How does the writer support the main idea in this paragraph?
c. How does the writer this paragraph?
d. How does the writer link the ideas in this paragraph?
The simplification of the work of the professional journalists is considered to the third
positive aspect of the process of citizen journalism. Thus, the various professional journalists
often take the help of the videos as well as the articles uploaded by the amateur journalists
and the private citizens for the purpose of providing quality of news stories to the people
(Suau and Masip 2014). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the famous documentary
maker Roger Graef for the creation of his documentary “The Trouble with Pirates” took
the help of various kinds of homemade videos prepared by the natives as well as the pirates
(Bulkley 2018). In a likewise manner, the pioneer documentary maker Molly Dineen also
talks about the importance of these videos as well as articles made by the amateurs as the acts
of individual creativity out of which the professional journalists can take a page out for the
process of the composition of their own news articles as well as documentaries (Bulkley
2018). Furthermore, the current director of ITN Productions, Chris Shaw, is also of the
opinion that these news articles as well as the videos produced by the various amateurs from
all over the world have opened up new vistas of possibilities and opportunities for the
professional journalists who can take the help of these articles and videos for the creation of

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their professional news pieces (Bulkley 2018). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the
various kinds of articles as well as videos published by the amateur journalists from the
different parts of the world have significantly made the work of the professional journalists
much easier than the earlier times.
Fourth Body Paragraph
a. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
b. How does the writer support the main idea in this paragraph?
c. How does the writer this paragraph?
d. How does the writer link the ideas in this paragraph?
The pseudo-authenticity of the news stories released by the amateur journalists is considered
to be the major disadvantage of the process of citizen journalism. Many experts, however, are
of the viewpoint that the rise of the concept of citizen journalism acts as a disadvantage for
the various professional journalists (Borger et al. 2013). Firstly, these experts are of the
viewpoint that most of the news items published by these amateur journalists are inauthentic
or lack relevant as well as important information (Borger et al. 2013). Thus, it is generally
seen that the professional journalists are required to take the help of various kinds of similar
news items to find out the authenticity of a particular news item released by an amateur
journalist (Suau and Masip 2014). Furthermore, it is generally seen that the inauthentic news
items released by these amateur journalists often gives rise panic as well as anxiety among
the people and this affects the status quo of the nation in a significant manner. However,
many experts on the other hand are of the viewpoint that inspite of these negative aspects the
positive aspects or the benefits provided by the amateur journalists cannot be undermined
(Karlsson et al. 2015). These experts are of the opinion that the rise of the amateur journalists

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in the different parts of the world has significantly revolutionized the field of journalism
(Karlsson et al. 2015). Furthermore, this particular concept has provided a tool to the citizens
by means of which they can check the authenticity as well as the validity of the news items
that are being provided to them by the various professional journalists as well as the news
channels (Lewis, Holton and Coddington 2014). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the
positive aspects of the concept of citizen journalism far outweigh the negative aspects of the
same process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the concept of citizen journalism has gained a considerable amount of
significance in the recent times and it is a reflection of this particular fact that the various
individuals from the different parts of the world are increasingly turning towards this
particular concept to disseminate the news stories which they think to be important or worth
knowing. Furthermore, it is generally seen that this concept in the recent times has not only
democratized the field of journalism but at the same time has considerably shaken the
authority of the professional journalists as the sole deciders of the kind of news stories which
would be disseminated to the people. Moreover, it is generally seen that even the professional
journalists are increasingly taking the help of the news stories released by these amateur
journalists for the process of the dissemination of the news stories. Thus, it can be said that
the advantages of the process of citizen journalism far outweighs the disadvantages of the
same process.

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