Lilah Gagne
What is a citizen journalist?
Citizen journalists are those who participate in the circulation of news through observation, documentation, and sharing events that the public has a right to know about.
A citizen journalist who observes is not actively participating in the event but is at the scene and can provide an eyewitness account. A citizen journalist who documents is one who records the information from that public space. A citizen journalist who shares is one who releases that information or footage that has been documented with a news organization or with the community through social media.
Social media acts as an outlet for citizens. Whether as a professional in a newsroom, a citizen eyewitness who posts pictures on a photo-sharing platform, or someone trying to distill the reports and conversation from social media they are involved in the circulation of 20th century news according to The Elements of Journalism.
In the age of technology and online journalism, social media is rapidly changing the way we consume media. Social media platforms including, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, allow for online discussion, community-based activism, as well as spreading news and resources to mass audiences.
The use of social media has made it easy for news outlets and organizations to publish user-generated content recorded or documented by citizen journalists. Sharing user-generated content online has also helped diversify news sources by elevating the voices of marginalized groups and telling their stories.
Police brutality in the media
Protests are a unique environment for social media-based citizen journalism. Many individuals are on the front lines protesting and documenting these historical movements.
Social media has dominated the media landscape in the midst of protests aligning with the country’s current unrest. A video which surfaced on social media of three Minneapolis Police Department officers kneeling on the neck of 46-year-old George Floyd sparked protests around the country, calling for an end to police brutality and reform for the judicial system.
Those in support of the Black Lives Matter movement have gathered to peacefully protest in favor of the incarceration of the officers for their crimes. While many are documenting the marches others have been sharing links to petitions, resources, and fundraisers to post bail for arrested protesters like the Columbus Freedom Fund, or CFF.
What the media isn’t capturing
A screenshot of a post made by @selfishfeminist where police officers in Columbus, OH were seen with taped over body cameras.
Live footage of the marches including photos and videos of police tear gassing and pepper spraying peaceful protesters to disperse the crowds have been on the forefront of social media. Many protesters have captured images of police with taped over body cameras or using violence as a way to keep them silent.
Not only have citizens been sharing footage of police, but many have questioned whether riot control agents like tear gas are non-lethal. This question lead to a thread on Twitter calling to ban the use of CS gas after trans individuals and cisgender women were experiencing multiple menstrual cycles after heavy exposure.
How news organizations and citizen journalists can work together
While eyewitness accounts and video footage can be useful contributions, the media must also make sure that it adheres to the ten basic elements of journalism as it changes with technology and social demands.
According to Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in The Elements of Journalism, some of the basic elements of journalism include: its obligation to the truth, its loyalty to its citizens, its function as a forum for public criticism and compromise, and its purpose to serve as a monitor of power.
Resharing information can produce more harm if it is considered unethical content. It is important that sources are verified and that the facts are correct.
Ultimately, news organizations can use citizen journalism and social media platforms to create a more diverse, transparent environment while aligning with the basic principles of journalism.
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