Traditional And Citizen-Based Forms Of Journalism - Essay Example

Traditional And Citizen-Based Forms Of Journalism Introduction A relationship can be said to exist if two or more individuals, objects, or subjects exist and with same or dissimilar objective. Relationship has its elements or things that tie them together; otherwise the result of such relations might not be fruitful. One relationship that has come under consideration by various researchers today is the relationship between citizen journalism and professional or traditional journalism. Being traditionally professional is reference to an amalgamation of features together with a claim to control and the command of cost-effective resources accessible to mainstream media organizations. Therefore, the professional media draw their organizational authority and charge from their production of their work within the journalism norms. This means that traditional journalism entails professionally paid staff, officially recognized by the press (Reese et al., 2007). Such members of staff are trained and proficient in the journalistic dexterity, and often have formal or ceremonial training. Advertising and subscriber support provides traditional journalism with the means to extensively distribute their listed product such as news, shows, and events (Reese et al., 2007). On the contrary, citizen journalism has its emergence from individuals and citizenry interest factions seeking to articulate thoughts or position within the civic discourse. Participants in the citizen journalism need not to hold traditional journalistic code as a prerequisite for participation. By designation, these citizenry media command less financial feasibility and may be based on a subsidy, non-profit, or no revenue model at all (Reese et al., 2007). Contributors only require motivation and willingness to have a word to the public. Unlike traditional journalism, citizen journalism creates lively and interactive conversations on personal sites, NGO) websites, chain emails, social media platforms, and message boards. Apparently as shown above, the two models of journalism though having same objective- informing the public of trends and news, they have distinct structures and approaches in operations for efficient service delivery. Principally, three different relations between the newly emerging citizen news production journalism and the traditional model of news production are apparent. First is a competitive relationship, favourably because the two models of journalism share the outcome or an analogous identity; thus they are likely to compete in the same marketplace. Secondly is an integrated relation, whereby due to orientation on new citizenry platforms, some traditional media have been forced to integrate social media apps and techniques to their websites. The third relationship can be defined as complimentary. It is a reconciliatory relation whereby diverse communication models can complement each other by providing coverage on various issues or by focusing deviating audiences (Neuberger and Nuernbergk, 2010). Final consideration is the strained relationship. In this paper, the intention is to discuss these relations as they apply in both traditional and citizenry journalism. Last section is the evaluation of the viability of citizenry journalism and appraising if it can substitute traditional journalism. Competitive relationship One of the outstanding universal concepts between citizenry and traditional journalism is that they both seek to serve a single audience or market as it may be put economically. This is definitely a precedent for severe competition for the traditional model tries to sustain its supremacy whereas the citizen-based is also attempting to get a share. The growing pressure of citizenry journalism confirms this. Such is the reason perhaps why Graeme Turner relate the increase of the citizenry journalist with a credibility crisis of traditional news as well as with the ordinary individuals’ endeavour at bridging the isolation gap between professional journalism and the public (Pain, n.d). Despite various scholars holding the assertion of traditional journalism being the democracy guardian, such affirmation is increasingly becoming untrue. The failure of professional media to uphold the delegated guardianship suggested the need for more optimistic citizen journalism (Pain, n.d). The struggle for who of the journalist is best at defending democracy is a reason for increased competition. However with such competition, journalists still see citizen-based citizen blogs as a threat to their profession, because the perceive bloggers as challengers of the reporters’ privilege to define what news are. In fact, it is common for journalists to hold that weblogs are typically poorly authored, highly-opinionated, and are often done by proletarians (Nip, 2006). Such perception does not enhance a healthy relationship between citizen journalism and mainstream journalism. Amid this contestation, significant negative impacts of social media to journalism are centred on the ethics and authenticity of the social media’s generated content. Such are the upheavals associated with intense competition as existing currently. As per the survey carried out on the staff of editorial units, some editors presume that some editors presume that bloggers see themselves as equivalent journalists to a degree of about 19%. Consequently, a fifth of the editors interviewed supported the assertion that bloggers perceive professional journalists regard them as a forthcoming competitor to degree of about 20 percent (Neuberger and Nuernbergk, 2010). However, most editorial leaders interviewed were sceptical of the influence of blogging in guaranteeing quality through joint control. Contrary to the held competition perception, the study also analysed the extent of antagonism by comparing the profiles of professional journalism and citizen blogs. The outcome indicated that traditional qualities related to reporting are more habitually attributed to best-crafted profile format by the professional editors than to citizen blogs. The profiles of professional journalism portrayed neutrality, credibility, accuracy, continuity, in-depth reporting relevancy (Franklin, 2011). Characteristics with application to each format to a considerable scope are authenticity, daily comments, the entertaining technique of writing, and the choice of stimulating issues. On the other hand, respondents suggested that citizenry blogs’ qualities to include individual perspective, in touch to authors, multiplicity of opinions, rigorous discussions, and hyperlinks to peripheral sources (Franklin, 2011). Additionally, preliminary surveys of citizen bloggers and professional journalists have revealed that both third-person-perception as well as self-perception is undoubtedly different. Therefore, it is appropriate to conclude that direct competition between citizen blogs and professional journalism is rather improbable. Complimentary relationship A relationship is complimentary if it is established that there is mutual affinity between participants. Even when parties exhibit different behaviour structures, they all employ concerted efforts to sustain a relationship. Correspondingly, the relationship between professional journalism and citizenry journalism can be said to be complimentary. The relations between citizenry journalists and mainstream media organization have become more vibrant particularly in the television journalism than any other platform. However, citizen television journalism is less a story of utilization and more a story of cooperation (Pain, n.d). Taking CNN's iReport as the case in point, the giant news agency has since the emergency of citizenry journalism increasingly involved citizen journalists in various public and socio-cultural perspectives. As held by Palmer through interviews in 2013, many of the resident interviewees felt conceited seeing their editorials such as own videos and pictures air on CNN‟s executive newscast. Such mutual relationship in turn fuelled their yearning to keep on producing, thus allowing them to craft portfolios that could complimentarily professionalize them as hopeful editors and reporters (pain, n.d). However, the interdependence CNN’s iReport and citizen reporters are totally a contradiction that complicates the motionless world's maps that professional journalism want to construct (Meraz, 2009). Nonetheless, whilst collaborative initiatives such as I Report doing not fully utilize the potential by its citizen editors, they are significant examples to show the nature of the relationship between traditional newsroom and citizenry journalism. An apparent illustration of how citizen journalism is increasingly exploiting the influence of media corporations in order to inundate the media-sphere with challenging interpretations of different aspects of news. Integrative relationship Though not discussed to a large extent, there exists an integrative relationship between citizen journalism and professional journalism. Integration entails the approach of employing techniques of other models interchangeably to ensure the objectives are met. It is common today to see social media platforms such Twitter and Facebook within the traditional media websites purposely to facilitate easy sharing of information and swift delivery. Consequently, despite podcasts and blogs mostly being a preserve of the editors, these editors may sometimes address their readers and listeners in an easier and more relaxed way, for users are able to comment on their weblogs. Though not exploited to full capacity, professional online divisions from dailies, weeklies, and distribution operators have for the most part adopted blogs and podcasts (Franklin, 2011). As regards to opportunities available for audience participation, various surveys have revealed audiences are limited to comment on issues in most cases. Nonetheless, only a scanty number of mainstream media offers the opportunity to assist citizen editors in scripting or investigation assignments. Whereas studies have recognized the effects of citizen media in the ever-increasing civic and subsequent participation, another quarter that necessitates attention is its impact on influencing the mainstream media agenda. Therefore, even as mainstream agenda has a steadfast influence on informing the public what to contemplate about, the citizen journalists also influences contemporary media agendas (Meraz, 2009). Citizen journalists give people a chance to participate in agenda-setting not simply by producing unique content, but also by making the agenda-setting course of mainstream outlets drastically susceptible to critical intercession (Goode, 2009). This is the reason integration being vital to see that both citizen and professional journalism participate in agenda setting. Strained relationship Certainly, the rise of citizenry journalism is the reason for the current upheaval witnessed in the journalism sphere. Significantly, the mayhem about new advances in technology and the influence on traditional journalism is apparent as more and more researchers have concerted efforts to analyze the weight of such relationship. The degree of rigorousness of the emergency is relative as different people have opposing perceptions about the merits of social media and technology’s influence on professional journalism. As held by Professor Alexander of the Graduate Institute of Geneva, recent technological transformation, and resultant economic upheaval is the cultural framework that objects circumstances. It then changes them into a crisis, for both citizen and professional journalists (Alexander, 2014).Nonetheless; such cultural structures not only elicit technological and economic transforms, but also offer pathways to manage them, allowing the self-governing practices of sovereign journalism to be continued in new forms. However, even as they productively try to shield their professional ethics, traditional journalists still experience these cultural codes as susceptible to rebellion in the face of economic and technological change. Certainly, citizenry self-regulating journalists and the social set of groups who support them feel like being on the verge of trailing in the fight for autonomy (Alexander, 2014). Apparently, journalism history has been manifested by constant tension eruptions. Just as present anxieties have been elicited by computerisation and digital-based news, so were previous crises of journalism concurrent to technological alteration that stipulated new forms of cost-effective organisation (Alexander, 2014). The consequence of this tension between traditional media and citizenry journalism is not pleasant. Digitalisation of journalism has generated unexpected media organisational mayhem and economic pressure. Today thousands of journalism professions have been disrupted, together with some of the profession’s most vulnerable institutions completely vanishing (Alexander, 2014). However, as a reproach, critical altercations with digital creations have set off innovative organisational shaping that consent to new technologies to support, rather than challenge, the autonomous culture and tradition of news production. Is citizen journalism a viable substitute? In line with establishing the viability of citizen journalism, it is paramount to understand the extent of performance of each model. Traditional journalism employs the services of the professional journalists as doorkeepers who sort through the happenings around the globe, thus selecting what they discern as significant and report them to the viewers and listeners (Nip, 2012). Despite all the news being targeted at the public, the audiences play no part in news processing with the exception of sources from which traditional journalists collect information and views. However, individuals in high ranks, who bear significant titles such as government officials and top corporate leaders, them unlike those that they lead, have greater chances of becoming sources for news. Otherwise, the journalists will have to carry out the full news processing, right from narrative idea generation, news assembling, to writing, to editing, to publishing, and exercise of professional news bulletin values for each instance (Nip, 2012). On the other hand, Citizen Journalism is one in which people are in charge of content gathering, producing, and publication in different platforms. It is a model that does not involve professionals, however sometimes when professional journalists do citizen journalism; they do not do it for a pay as employees (Nip, 2012). Even so, citizen journalism can be by an individual, a group, or an NGO without paid subordinate running Facebook page, a blog, news website, or a community-based radio station (Nip, 2012). With the freedom to host such platforms, citizen journalism and user-generated content, has unique qualities that render them not only distinct but a significant transition from tradition to contemporary media. Unlike traditionally taught journalists, modern citizen journalists have little effort at defining their objective. Instead, they often present news and opinions with a serious mood and an articulated point of view. Critically too, the collaborative and participative approach adopted by citizen journalism has led to shifting of professional journalists’ role of expert to that a facilitator of citizen conversations (MacDonnell, 2014). Most researchers have instituted efforts in establishing the viable option between citizen and traditional journalism. Most of the conclusions from such studies generally seem to favour that both forms of journalism herein serve the same purpose. With an ever growing technology, a number of mainstream media have currently integrated citizen journalism platforms to their parent broadcasts, and therefore citizen journalism is cementing its reliability (Collins, 2013). While citizen journalism increases opportunity to the audience, the model lacks a scheme of checks and balances to discern the truth from bias, unlike tradition media. Authenticity of news is important, and therefore I hold that social media is not a viable substitute. However, since both media platforms are aimed at informing the public, it is better that all practitioners reconcile the two, for all are paramount. Conclusion Conclusively, it is apparent that the nature of the relationship between citizen journalism and traditionally professional is a blend of strain and collaboration. The advent of novel technologies and the subsequent consequences such as social media emergency have had a big influence on journalism. It has changed the way of news production, and its impact is apparent. Positively, social media have made it easier for journalists, both citizen and traditional to pass content to their audience swiftly. However, the failure by mainstream media to accept the entry of fast-developing citizen journalism has made the citizen media become more apparent than before. As a response mainstream media have had to reconsider their stand and the relationship with newly citizen journalism. Moreover, the natures of these existent relationships are competitive, complementary, and integrative and strained at some instances. Competitively, the two models share the upshot or an analogous identity, thus the possibility of competing in the same marketplace. The second relation is integrative in the sense that traditional media have had to integrate social media apps and techniques to their platforms due to their convenience. Another relation is complimentary, whereby diverse communication models can complement each other by providing coverage on various issues. Overwhelmingly is a strained relationship whereby both citizen and professional journalism perceive each other with suspicion. Ultimately, the nature of relationships between the two models of journalism is extensive as others are likely to emerge, but the four discussed herein are mostly apparent. References Alexander, J., 2014. The Graduate Institute, Geneva - Events. Available at: http://graduateinstitute.ch/events/_/events/corporate/2014/the-crisis-of-journalism-reconsi [Accessed 28 Dec. 2014]. Collins, A., 2014. Where traditional and citizen journalism find a place to live in harmony and cohesiveness. Media, culture, & society. Available at: http://decline in investigative journalism in Britain. [Accessed 28 Dec. 2014]. Franklin, B., 2011. The future of journalism. Oxon [England]: Routledge. Goode, L., 2009. Social news, citizen journalism and democracy. New Media & Society, 11(8), pp. 1287-1305. McDonnell, S., 2014. I-35W Bridge Collapse / What is citizen journalism. Available at: http://35wbridge.pbworks.com/w/page/900787/What%20is%20citizen%20journalism [Accessed 26 Dec. 2014]. Meraz, S., 2009. Is There an Elite Hold? Traditional Media to Social Media Agenda Setting Influence in Blog Networks. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14(3), pp. 682-707. Neuberger, C., and Nuernbergk, C., 2010. Competition, Complementarity or Integration?. Journalism Practice, 4(3), pp. 319-332. Nip, J., 2006. Exploring the Second Phase of Public Journalism1. Journalism Studies, 7(2), pp. 212-236. Pain, P., n.d. Citizen journalism and mainstream media---Competing entities or complementary beings?. Available at: http://www.academia.edu/8383464/Citizen_journalism_and_mainstream_media---Competing_entities_or_complementary_beings [Accessed 31 Dec. 2014]. Reese, S., Rutigliano, L., Hyun, K., and Jeong, J., 2007. Mapping the blogosphere: Professional and citizen-based media in the global news arena. Journalism, 8(3), pp. 235-261. Read More