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The True Meaning of Citizen Journalism
Written by Christie Kovalewich
According to dictionary.com, journalism is the “occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business”. There are many types of journalism as well, for example, citizen journalism, photojournalism and visual storytelling. Journalism demonstrates layers of convergence such as ownership, technology, and participatory culture.
Citizen journalism, according to dictionary.com, is the “involvement of non-professionals in reporting news, especially in blogs and other websites”. Nowadays, it is as if anyone can be a journalist. Many people have their own blogs, or report news through social media, etc. and this is an easy way to get information and opinions from other people.
Photojournalism, according to dictionary.com, is “journalism in which photography dominates written copy, as in certain magazines”. This can be found on a lot of websites, blogs, and in print. It has gotten more popular over time.
Visual storytelling is communicating visually in forms that can be read or looked upon. Ideas and emotions can be expressed through performance instead of text and dialogue.
The post popular types of journalism now, so it seems, are citizen journalism and professional journalism. As mentioned above, anyone can contribute to their own kind of journalism with the freedom of having their own opinions, information and photography when it comes to citizen journalism. It is a way for people to connect over certain situations and it allows people to have their own input.
An example of a case that has had a lot of citizen and professional journalism is the Ferguson case. The public took it to their own to upload pictures and opinions of the case, which helped bring attention to both Brown’s death and the law enforcement’s response. The advantage of citizen journalism is that other people are able to access it very quickly, rather than waiting for a report on the news. Many people used Twitter. Citizen journalism is something that has been around for a while, but it really sparked during the Ferguson case. Tweets, blog posts, photos and videos of citizens have complemented traditional journalist’s work. The photos and videos that were posted were even aired on news channels.
Besides citizen journalist’s work, traditional and professional journalist’s work still played a big role during this time. There were written articles, photographs, and more. Citizen and professional journalism go hand in hand.
This case demonstrates the convergence of technology, since citizen’s can post on their own using social media and their own phone cameras, as well as using their own blogs online. It also demonstrates ownership by everything being their own work, and complementing the work of professional journalists. Last but not least, it demonstrates participatory culture based on the fact that anyone is able to upload what they want and contribute to their own form of journalism.
Citizen Photojournalist Providing Aid To The Media
Written by Megan McGarrity
Journalists are often seen as nosy individuals who push boundaries and have no sense of personal space. However, real journalists simply try to investigate a story and write an accurate depiction of the event. Some even use images to further portray their topic which is known as visual storytelling.
Visual storytelling is a story told primarily through the use of visual media. Stories can be expressed through still photography, illustration, or even video.
However, this is no easy task and people should not take this type of talent for granted. Your average person doesn’t have the skills to take a photo while also telling a story accurately at the same time. In addition, a true journalist can evoke a certain emotion before even telling the story.
Take these pictures for instance, the journalist caught the exact moment these actions occurred and grew a story out of it. This is a true form of art and the depiction of patriotism and suffering are captured without a single word. These images made a lasting impression which shows the expertise of that journalist.
The truth is, pictures that accompany a story can create more understanding and appreciation to the public as opposed to not have an image. Sarah Lawrence of Getty Images stressed the power of emotion that accompanies a photo with a story. They developed an equation that accurately depicts the reason for adding a visual to any article. They stated, “Powerful visuals + evoke emotions = Deeper engagement.”
As a result of everyone using social media, journalists need to find ways to captivate their audience while also being accurate and credible. Citizen journalists can take a photo but not necessarily tell the whole story that accompanies it. However, photojournalists are trained professionals that have an eye for imagery and can truly bring people to tears.
I believe this type of storytelling needs to be appreciated and not forgotten. When a story hits the headlines people want visuals and it is up to the journalists to capture the essence of the story. Without it, articles would seem bland and the idea of breaking news may lose all meaning.
What do you think? Do you think this type of storytelling is important and if so, why? Share your favorite image and the story that’s behind it. Come back for more takes on the world of journalism and how it affects society.
