Allan, S., Sonwalkar, P., Carter, C. (2007) ‘Bearing witness: citizen journalism and human rights

issues’, Globalisation, Societies and Education, Vol. 5, No, 3, pp. 373- 389.

Social Media & Citizen Journalism

Contents

The significance and impact of citizen journalism

Case studies-

1) the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami;

2) the human rights abuses in India’s north-east region

3) the Palestinian Crisis in the occupied territories.

Conclusion

Activity

Main arguments

Citizen journalism brings forth ‘new approaches to

eyewitness reporting’ and it provides a basis for ‘emphatic

engagement’ particularly vis-à-vis human rights violations.

Encourage debate and discussion whilst bringing like-

minded people together.

Empowered ordinary citizens to take on the role of news

reporter and express their opinions.

Social Media & Citizen journalism Alternative to ‘helicopter journalism’. This superficial,

‘outside-in’ reporting is not what we need stresses Danny

Schechter.

Manuel Castell’s concept of the ‘network society’

Citizen journalism has the ability to witness and humanise

suffering

Fosters a human connection

Informs/educates- Raises awareness about certain issues

Provide intellectual freedom and freedom of speech

Web blogs

Blogs provide a virtual space for discussion and debate. Not

only do they raise awareness about certain issues, they also

humanise events and connect people.

http://www.rediff.com/

Regarding the Boxing Day tsunami, SEA-EAT (The South-

East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami) was a blog set up soon

after the tragedy about those affected. It was the first of many

blogs that appeared after the disaster and provided the ‘eyes

and ears’ of the tragedy from a local point of view.

http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com.au/

Redefining news...

Online news reporting of citizen journalists presents

alternative viewpoints, context and ideas to news reports;

offering ‘a window for outsiders to look in’.

The rise of citizen journalists has redefined ‘news’ and who

can be a ‘journalist’. It challenges and transforms the

traditional unilateral process of journalism; social media has

given the audience a means to produce their own content.

‘Bypassing News: US citizens journalism killing mainstream’

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLW_VOciufY>.