CITIZEN JOURNALISM: A STUDY OF NEW FORM OF NEWS MEDIA REPORTING

Abstract

This paper explores the rise of participatory journalism as a new
phase of media-based technology and its position in the journalism
field. As a new media form, citizen journalism appeared with a lot of
attraction supported by high technology that enables audiences to get
fast information as well as flexibility in accessing it. It is examined
by comparing citizen journalists with professional journalists in their
way of gathering and reporting news. Apart from the benefits, the
citizen journalists particularly those who are considered as bloggers
are sometimes challenged in providing accurate and objective
information without being fully influenced by their thought. It is
important to note that the collaboration between the citizen and the
professional journalists is very essential to maintain the news quality
they produce. Bloggers who work alone and provide information just
based on what they are thinking, without having any research, should
be considered as a separate term from other online reporters who
work based on journalism principles.
Keywords: Citizen Journalism; Traditional media; News value;
Internet; Technology.