Web has emerged as the newest communication medium which offers the ultimate sophistication in getting and disseminating information, moreover opens public discussion on certain issues (Reddick and King, 2001, p. 246). Let us welcome the newest form of citizen journalism, blogging or web ‘logging’. According to Tanner, et al. (2005, p. 229) bloggers are labeled as citizen journalists because their topics are fermented at reporting ground news which eventually make them possible to be the major alternative source of information.
An overview of citizen journalism was provided in deteksi wordpress (2008), citizen journalism might be translated into the action of collecting and disseminating information through a certain media in their individual perspective. The source of their idea might be from what they see, hear, think, etcetera.
According to deteksi wordpress (2008), when a bloggers rewrite what they have witnessed, somehow it weakens the power of the article because the information has traveled to more than one party and might be interpreted differently by each of them. In one side it might help others in getting information from different perspectives. However, since bloggers write it according to what they hear and see, it might be subjective and contain exaggeration, whereby it challenges the authenticity and reliability of that article.
The existence of blog in these days has become the real example of citizen journalism. In addition, as bloggers are becoming more critical source of news (Opshal, cited in Zeller 2005), therefore they must differentiate themselves from the mainstream media in posting news by doing an initial cross checking fact to make an accurate submission (Tanner, et.al, 2005, p. 230). To enhance the blog’s appearance (looks more informative and reliable), bloggers usually upload pictures they snapped using their mobile phone.
In my opinion, citizen journalism should be the balancing tool for people in gaining more comprehensive information. Furthermore, to make them not solely rely on mainstream media in getting information, because at times mainstream media is one-sided in publishing their news. So, how about you, what do you think?
Reference:
Citizen Journalism 2008, Deteksi Word Press, viewed 7 June 2008,
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/images/set1/internews_165935_1%255B204394%255D.jpg&imgrefurl=http://deteksi.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/blog-dan-citizen-journalism/&h=333&w=500&sz=61&hl=id&start=10&tbnid=gIUackbUp-56zM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcitizen%2Bblogging%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Did
Reddick, R, King, E, 2001, The Online Journalist: Using the internet and other electronic resources, 3rd edn, Harcourt College Publisher, United State of America.
Tanner, S Philips, G Smyth, C Tapshall 2005, ‘Chapter 17: Technology’ in Journalism Ethics At Work, Pearson Longman publishing, Australia.
In my opinion, citizen journalism should be the balancing tool for people in gaining more comprehensive information. Furthermore, to make them not solely rely on mainstream media in getting information, because at times mainstream media is one-sided in publishing their news. So, how about you, what do you think?
Reference:
Citizen Journalism 2008, Deteksi Word Press, viewed 7 June 2008,
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/images/set1/internews_165935_1%255B204394%255D.jpg&imgrefurl=http://deteksi.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/blog-dan-citizen-journalism/&h=333&w=500&sz=61&hl=id&start=10&tbnid=gIUackbUp-56zM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcitizen%2Bblogging%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Did
Reddick, R, King, E, 2001, The Online Journalist: Using the internet and other electronic resources, 3rd edn, Harcourt College Publisher, United State of America.
Tanner, S Philips, G Smyth, C Tapshall 2005, ‘Chapter 17: Technology’ in Journalism Ethics At Work, Pearson Longman publishing, Australia.
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