Blogs and Citizen Journalism: An Interpretation of the Impact that Citizen Journalism will have on Blogging

By Claire Mauro 1/17/13

In a digitalizing world, official newspapers are not the only news source that can reach a large or even global audience. The internet has allowed for the rise of amateur journalists or anyone in general reporting current events through blogs. One such blog is called Global Voices. In its own words, it is an international community of bloggers w ho report on blogs and citizen media from around the world.(King, 2011) With the emergence of such news sources, there is speculation over whether or not a blog is truly considered a reliable news sources or if it is just digital noise and if it could potentially replace traditional media. Through talking with Global Voices blogger Laura Schneider I concluded that blogging works simultaneously with traditional news media and adds a voice that is unheard in the media or censured in certain countries, either by the government or as a result of a biased perspective. Blogs, such as Global Voices, have the potential to articulate points of view that are just as important as the hard news that is reported in the professional media. In a review of Global Voices the author, R.P. King, explains that this particular blog contains a fresh, entertaining mix of writing and video reflecting viewpoints that are not reflected in traditional media. (King, 2011) The bloggers on this website share similar sentiments for why this type of news is important and valuable. Laura Schneider, a blogger from Rosario, Argentina, said that she considers herself a comunicadora ciudadana, or citizen communicator, (Schneider, 2013) which is more commonly referred as a citizen journalist.1 Even though she is not a professional journalist, she is learning to observe and investigate in order to be able to communicate and explain the situation based on the viewpoints collected from other blogs and Twitter tweets. Not only do these blogs present and analyze a greater volume of viewpoints, but, as Schneider
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The phrase citizen journalist embodies the grassroots self-publishing of content that creates and extends conversation by citizens who were once part of the audience but are now produsers without institutional backing. (Robinson & Deshano, 2011)

explains, blogs increase freedom of expression. Due to government censorship and bias in the media, there is always doubt about objectivity, but blogs allow journalists to not be tied to an editorial line. (Schneider, 2013) In Schneiders blog, she compiles commentary on current events in Argentina that shows what Argentines are saying online about their country and government. While it might not be the same as interviewing people on the street, she does acquire a different perspective that presents an opportunity for people to question their beliefs based on the beliefs of others. Even though there is a lot that blogging can contribute to the global media system, it will never fully be able to replace traditional media. The lack of a strong editorial vision deciding which events are most newsworthy (King, 2011) defines the difference between blogging and journalism. But it can and will continue to offer a different kind of news. While some media outlets cover sensation stories as a means of selling their product, bloggers have the flexibility to comment and analyze any story that they deem important enough to be told. Blogging, such as the reporting that Schneider conducts, will continue to thrive and evolve not only because of what it can offer everyone else in the world, but also because of the personal benefits that it provides the bloggers. Just as Schneider refers to herself as a citizen journalist, so do many others around the world. According to Citizen Journalism and their Third Places by Sue Robinson and Cathy Deshano, this type of reporting might enhance peoples sense of belonging to where they live (Robinson & Deshano, 2011). Robinson and Deshano conducted research to see who would contribute to citizen journalism and why they make the effort to do so. According to their research findings, some of the contributors to citizen journalism liked the feeling that they were in charge of their own reporting and news production (Robinson & Deshano, 2011). One person liked to write about local news events for

free because she enjoyed the lack of editorial oversight that the citizen- journalism site entailed. She explained, It is freeing. I can interview someoneand it will go up exactly the way I want it. (Robinson & Deshano, 2011) Just as Schneider explained, the obvious content control that is exercised in traditional media is a push for people to become citizen journalists and thereby lead to an augmentation in interest in blogs like Global Voices. At this point, society is just starting to see what blogs can provide in terms of news. Schneider is an example of the many people who are experimenting with the limits of blogging. As long as the public continues to see bias and censorship in their traditional media, just as Schneider does, blogs will continue to expand and evolve. It is a new age medium that has the potential to meet the needs of the public, in some cases, more so than the current professional news media. References King. R.P. (2011). Global Voices. Choice, 48 (12), 5587-5587. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/881551767?accountid=10730. Jan. 16, 2013. Robinson, S. & Deshano, C. (2011). Citizen Journalists and Their Third Places. Journalism Studies, 12:5, 642-657. Jan. 16, 2013. Schneider, L. (2013). Personal Interview. Email. Jan. 15, 2013.