Lecture Notes

Issues in Journalism: mainstream vs social media

what is citizen journalism?

Refers to citizens playing an active role in news gathering, reporting, analysis and dissemination

Examples: 

• London 7/7 and mobile witnessing
• Adam Stacey took pictures sent it to a friend with a blog
• The death of Neda Aghal Sultan Tehran 2009

Ethical issues:

• intrusiom/invasion of privacy
• airing graphic videos against public broadcasters definitions of good state and decency
• some argue that in showing such footage is dehumanising victims

Positives and Negative: UGC

Positive: 

Gives journalists authority acts as a witness to truth

Negative:

Poor technical quality edited?

Issues:

Issues of subjectivity and underscores the role of the journalists

Social media in the newsroom 

• smart phones changing speed and shape of news
• email twitter facebook whatsapp
• trending hashtags can alert journalists to breaking stories
• platform to broadcast news
• oppourtunity for audience interaction 

Summary:

• social media is increasingly part of the journalist took it
• there are great resources for monitoring content
• check users social history profiles
• social media takes your story to different audience 
• what does the future of news look like