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The problem with 'citizen journalism'

Poynter's Kelly McBride says user-generated content shouldn't be called "citizen journalism" because it's not journalism.

It’s great that newspapers host these sites. It’s a wonderful service for community. They are often interesting, vibrant and exciting. But it’s not journalism. So don’t call it that. Journalism is an independent act of gathering and assembling information by an organization. The work is completed in service of the audience. The journalists' loyalities are with the reader and viewer. You might question the independence and loyality of various news organizations, or even all news organizations. But at least, in theory, you expect those values to guide the process of gathering news.

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3 comments about 'The problem with 'citizen journalism''

All correct except for the phrase "by an organization," a needless limitation of the definition.

Would McBride argue that George Seldes didn't function as a journalist? How 'bout I.F. Stone?

No. Journalism isn't a profession, it's an action: the independent gathering of information with the intent to distribute that information to the public, for the benefit of that public. One can do it individually OR as part of an organization. So some reader-contributed content might well be "citizen journalism," not that I'm arguing for the use of that term.

Almost anyone can function as a journalist, and in the society envisioned by the Framers, at one time or another almost everyone, at one time or another, would. That's why they understood and encoded in the Bill of Rights that freedom of the press belongs to "the people."

Posted by Lex at February 28, 2006 10:57 AM

Is this 2006? Geez, this argument is so 2003.

Big J journalists need to get over themselves already.

Posted by Howard Owens at March 1, 2006 1:01 AM

Look at the so-called citizen journalists in the same light as newspaper columnists, and even talk radio hosts.

They sometimes provide news, and almost always provide opinion. The good thing about bloggers and the citJs is that they (we) are often niche-focused. With the business side of media taking on greater importance -- revenue and news staffs down -- traditional journalists don't have the time nor the resources to pursue every story as in-depth as they once could.

So, we'll still see instances where bloggers will break big news. The Sony kit and the Kryptonite locks are two prime examples.

Citizen journalists may not be journalists in the media viewpoint, but they do serve a good purpose.

Just call them citizen columnists or citizen DJs, I guess.
Mike
www.mikespoints.com

Posted by Mike Driehorst at March 3, 2006 8:27 AM

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