Explore the power of citizen journalism in the digital age, revolutionising news democratisation and reshaping the landscape of traditional journalism.
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30 May 2024
6 Min Read
Liew Yen Rou (Student Writer), Nellie Chan (Editor)
Explore the power of citizen journalism in the digital age, revolutionising news democratisation and reshaping the landscape of traditional journalism.
The news landscape has experienced a seismic shift from the late 20th century to the early 21st century. Despite the Internet's inception in 1983, newspapers, radio, and television remained primary sources for staying informed about local and global events, owing to their affordability and accessibility. However, with the advent of new media, it's out of the old and in with the new.
While traditional media (or old media) retains relevance today, new media has emerged as the preferred sphere for creating and disseminating news. The prevalence of electronic devices in this digital age, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, has facilitated constant connectivity, driving mass migration towards social media platforms. What began with weblogs (better known as blogs) has now evolved to include posts, reels, and X's (formerly tweets), enabling users to share news and updates beyond the confines of traditional media structures with a simple click. This shift has empowered a growing community of citizen journalists, heralding a new era where everyday individuals play a pivotal role in the democratisation of news.
Traditional journalism often restricts freedom of speech through its editorial policies, corporate ownership and influence, and government regulations and censorship. In contrast, citizen journalism operates outside these restrictions, effectively challenging the gatekeeping role historically held by traditional media outlets. Citizen journalists disrupt the monopoly over information by presenting diverse perspectives and covering a wide range of topics using various mediums such as photos, videos, and podcasts. Despite lacking formal journalism training, they adeptly address discrepancies or biases between narratives and truths, capturing unfolding events they have directly witnessed through techniques like eyewitness reporting and offering firsthand insights.
Consequently, citizen journalism frequently outperforms traditional journalism in delivering breaking news, especially due to its rapid dissemination through social media platforms. Recognising the significance of citizen journalists' contributions, digital platforms increasingly incorporate and monetise them. A notable example is Newswav, a trilingual news and content aggregator based in Malaysia, which allows individuals to publish news stories and other content as Newswav Creators. Stringent checks are conducted on their content to ensure adherence to guidelines before publication. Similarly, StringersHub, based in the United States, is a marketplace that connects professional videographers (content creators) and eyewitnesses with media producers and editors who need video content.
In the digital age, citizen journalists have harnessed the power of social media platforms for activism. Unlike traditional forms of activism, which often rely on physical gatherings like protests or rallies, social media activism transcends geographical boundaries and reaches global audiences instantaneously. Through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), citizen journalists amplify their voices, disseminate important information, and mobilise communities around social and political issues. Whether it's raising awareness about environmental conservation, advocating for social justice, or organising relief efforts in times of crisis, citizen journalists are leveraging the immediacy and connectivity of social media to drive meaningful change.
Building on this momentum, (then-)17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam posted a video on TikTok in 2021 describing an incident in which her physical education teacher made a rape joke. The video gained significant traction online, sparking a nationwide debate on sex education, misogyny, and sexual violence. It also garnered coverage from local and international news outlets, including BBC, Al Jazeera, and Reuters. The debate prompted her to create the hashtag #MakeSchoolASaferPlace, empowering other students to speak up about the challenges they face at school.
However, despite the potential of citizen journalism, there are pitfalls to consider. 'The audience of citizen journalists perceives them as "one of their own", someone who looks out for "the little people",' said Mr Gan Chee Keat, Lecturer at the School of Media and Communication. 'Nevertheless, these citizen journalists could pose problems for the causes they advocate if they resort to sensationalism and disinformation, which could render their advocacy insincere, especially if they are only doing it for the views and likes.'
The rise of citizen journalism has coincided with what many refer to as the post-truth era, a time marked by the blurring of fact and fiction. Former chief editor of Al-Jazeera Arabic, Ahmed Al Sheikh, described this era as 'when lies replace the truth, emotions replace honesty, personal analysis replaces verified information, and one opinion replaces multiple opinions.' This era is further exacerbated by social media and its algorithms, which create filter bubbles and echo chambers. Dr Richard Fletcher, Senior Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, explained that filter bubbles 'describe a situation where news that we dislike or disagree with is automatically filtered out, and this might have the effect of narrowing what we know.' The Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Texas at Austin defines echo chambers as 'when one experiences a biased, tailored media experience that eliminates opposing viewpoints and differing voices.'
In this environment of filter bubbles and echo chambers, distinguishing fake news becomes increasingly difficult within citizen journalism. With the ease of content creation and dissemination, misinformation and disinformation can proliferate. While traditional journalism upholds a Code of Ethics involving principles such as seeking truth and reporting it, minimising harm, acting independently, and being accountable and transparent, citizen journalism often operates with fewer restrictions and lacks rigorous fact-checking processes.
To address this issue, several social media platforms and media outlets have implemented fact-checking systems. For instance, X (formerly Twitter) introduced its Community Notes feature, where contributors can collaboratively add context to potentially misleading posts. Moreover, well-established news organisations like Reuters and The Associated Press (AP) have dedicated 'Fact Check' segments. Furthermore, The Star, an English-language newspaper in Malaysia, features a 'True Or Not' segment, combating false information in local and global news.
As we navigate the ever-shifting tides of modern media, citizen journalism emerges as a formidable force in the democratisation of news, brimming with its share of advantages and disadvantages. While it stands tall as a beacon for everyday individuals to amplify diverse perspectives, challenge entrenched narratives, and rally for change, it also grapples with the murky waters of misinformation and disinformation.
So, journeying onward, embracing collaboration between traditional media and citizen journalists becomes increasingly imperative, cultivating a symbiotic relationship rooted in ethical standards, accountability to the standards, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Ultimately, at the intersection of traditional and citizen journalism lies our collective mission: to empower the voices of the marginalised, enrich public discourse, and pave a path towards a more enlightened and equitable society.
Liew Yen Rou is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Mass Communication (Honours) at Taylor's University. She is an aspiring journalist who pens her thoughts on current issues to while away the time.