I want to take this opportunity to once again discuss the topic of ‘citizen journalism’, taking into account the insight I gained from further reading. At first glance I think it’s fantastic, more power to the people! However, the more I read, the more I sympathise with industry professionals. Now I'm questioning whether citizen journalism is a good thing after all…
I’m sure citizen journalism emerged as a result of many factors, though I am of the view that two major aspects converged to allowed it to become so successful. First, I think it was the growing ‘distaste’ for the media industry at large. I mean, there is no denying that it rests in a hierarchical structure and runs according to politics. The second major factor was the development of the internet – and therefore vicariously, the knowledge-based economy. Journalists prospered when information was scarce, sources were highly sort after and few and far between. Since the internet came along though, we all have the resources. Now all that’s needed is the initiative (which many people seem to have).
(Side note: The interesting thing about citizen journalism, is that it encourages feedback and participation – both necessary aspects of our democracy. Now, I’m no longer a huge fan of CJ but I think it will be interesting to see if, for future generations, it increases youth consumption of news and politics).
I find it interesting that in many cases, a citizen journalist is portrayed as the ‘good’ guy – leaving journalists and the traditional media industry as ‘baddies’. I used to fall into this category, however with two friends up to their necks in journalism studies at uni (I study law, and they are just as busy writing as I am reading case after case) I wonder where the justice is? I’m all for hearing “the truth”, but when did we depart from placing emphasis on the aspect of professionalism? Do credentials mean nothing anymore? My tertiary education is extremely important to me, so I can understand the frustration, and dare I say offence, that media professionals deal with when someone unqualified steps in to take the reigns. It’s a mere mockery.
Having said this, a lot of journalists are still confident that their industry will persevere; that the very idea of citizen journalism will die, or is already dead. These people argue that although it is interesting and quite popular, CJ lacks the editorial strength and general ethics that journalism [more often times than not] portrays. They suggest that only trained journalists can manage this effectively. From my own observations, journalism is still a very popular course studied in universities, which suggests that the need for journalists is not declining. I for one still find myself watching the news on television and reading the newspaper in the morning, so regardless of the weightless economy, for me traditional news forms are still relevant.
I read a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “The Good, The Bad and the Web 2.0” which offered opposing opinions between academics in relation to Web 2.0; the tool that allows any internet user to become a “journalist”. Sometimes identified as the democratisation of information, Web 2.0 fails to preserve “talent” in the industry.
I am still in awe of this quote, which I think hits the nail on the head:
“We've lost truth and interest in the objectivity of mainstream media because of our self-infatuation with the subjectivity of our own messages. It's what, in "Cult of the Amateur," I call digital narcissism. A flattened media is a personalized, chaotic media without that essential epistemological anchor of truth. The impartiality of the authoritative, accountable expert is replaced by murkiness of the anonymous amateur. When everyone claims to be an author, there can be no art, no reliable information, no audience.” – Andrew Keen (2007).
I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I started this week’s focus with sympathy for the ‘underdog’ – the citizen journalist. But now I am of the view that the pyjama-clad wise guy blogger isn’t so fantastic. The egotism that suggests some people need not go to university astounds me. The emphasis on amateur journalism and a move away from qualifications/credentials appalls me. And quite simply, the lack of preservation of true art… the talent and passion of some journalists being pushed aside for online clutter disappoints me.
References
Barry, D. 2008. Wilde’s Evenings: the Rewards of Citizen Journalism. Media and Culture 11 (1)http://journal.media-culture.org.au/0804/09-barry.php (accessed May 13, 2008).I’m sure citizen journalism emerged as a result of many factors, though I am of the view that two major aspects converged to allowed it to become so successful. First, I think it was the growing ‘distaste’ for the media industry at large. I mean, there is no denying that it rests in a hierarchical structure and runs according to politics. The second major factor was the development of the internet – and therefore vicariously, the knowledge-based economy. Journalists prospered when information was scarce, sources were highly sort after and few and far between. Since the internet came along though, we all have the resources. Now all that’s needed is the initiative (which many people seem to have).
(Side note: The interesting thing about citizen journalism, is that it encourages feedback and participation – both necessary aspects of our democracy. Now, I’m no longer a huge fan of CJ but I think it will be interesting to see if, for future generations, it increases youth consumption of news and politics).
I find it interesting that in many cases, a citizen journalist is portrayed as the ‘good’ guy – leaving journalists and the traditional media industry as ‘baddies’. I used to fall into this category, however with two friends up to their necks in journalism studies at uni (I study law, and they are just as busy writing as I am reading case after case) I wonder where the justice is? I’m all for hearing “the truth”, but when did we depart from placing emphasis on the aspect of professionalism? Do credentials mean nothing anymore? My tertiary education is extremely important to me, so I can understand the frustration, and dare I say offence, that media professionals deal with when someone unqualified steps in to take the reigns. It’s a mere mockery.
Having said this, a lot of journalists are still confident that their industry will persevere; that the very idea of citizen journalism will die, or is already dead. These people argue that although it is interesting and quite popular, CJ lacks the editorial strength and general ethics that journalism [more often times than not] portrays. They suggest that only trained journalists can manage this effectively. From my own observations, journalism is still a very popular course studied in universities, which suggests that the need for journalists is not declining. I for one still find myself watching the news on television and reading the newspaper in the morning, so regardless of the weightless economy, for me traditional news forms are still relevant.
I read a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “The Good, The Bad and the Web 2.0” which offered opposing opinions between academics in relation to Web 2.0; the tool that allows any internet user to become a “journalist”. Sometimes identified as the democratisation of information, Web 2.0 fails to preserve “talent” in the industry.
I am still in awe of this quote, which I think hits the nail on the head:
“We've lost truth and interest in the objectivity of mainstream media because of our self-infatuation with the subjectivity of our own messages. It's what, in "Cult of the Amateur," I call digital narcissism. A flattened media is a personalized, chaotic media without that essential epistemological anchor of truth. The impartiality of the authoritative, accountable expert is replaced by murkiness of the anonymous amateur. When everyone claims to be an author, there can be no art, no reliable information, no audience.” – Andrew Keen (2007).
I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I started this week’s focus with sympathy for the ‘underdog’ – the citizen journalist. But now I am of the view that the pyjama-clad wise guy blogger isn’t so fantastic. The egotism that suggests some people need not go to university astounds me. The emphasis on amateur journalism and a move away from qualifications/credentials appalls me. And quite simply, the lack of preservation of true art… the talent and passion of some journalists being pushed aside for online clutter disappoints me.
References
Flew, Terry. 2005. Virtual Cultures in Flew, Terry, New Media : an introduction, Melbourne: OUP, pp.61-82.
Keen, A and Weinberger, D. 2007. The Good, The Bad and The ‘Web 2.0’. Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB118461274162567845-lMyQjAxMDE3ODE0ODYxMTgyWj.html (accessed May 13, 2008)
Mallasch, K. 2007. Journalism Hope: Four Classes of Citizen Journalists. http://www.journalismhope.com/node/28 (accessed May 13, 2008)
Wikipedia. 2008. Citizen Journalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_journalism (accessed May 1, 2008).
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