A Critical Analysis of the Effectiveness of Citizen Journalism - Research Paper Example

The new media theory of gatekeeping is also used to determine whether or not citizen journalism is now properly described as an audience-directed medium in which traditional journalists no longer choose what stories are important and what details should be included in news reports. If conventional journalists are no longer gatekeepers, then citizen journalism is effective in that it does engage audiences and sustain a legitimate interest. The results of this study indicate that citizen journalism is effective in that it does engage audiences, encourages audience participation in news reporting, and does gratify audiences’ need to participate, socialize, interact and come into close personal contact with the subject matter or a news report.

Gatekeeping variables were also concerned that audiences have greater control over determining what news items are important and how they should be reported. However, citizen journalism appears to be supplemental to mainstream media as the news report of a recent news item provides details from mainstream media, indicating that fact-checking is still within the domain of mainstream media. However, since additional details are provided in citizen journalism reporting, citizen journalism appears to be supplemental to mainstream media.

Mainstream media recognizes the potential for greater detail and a more intimate connection from reports by citizen journalists and therefore seeks to partner with citizen journalists. In other words, there is a co-dependency between mainstream media and citizen journalism.This study seeks to determine whether or not citizen journalism is, or can be legitimate and effective news or information source. There are several definitions of citizen journalism, indicating that citizen journalism is a complex phenomenon (Temple, 2013, p. 234). For the purpose of this research, citizen journalism refers to the dissemination of news, opinions, photographs, videos, and debates by individuals who are not professional journalists (Allan, 2009, p. 19).