Dan Gilmor introduces the idea of 'Citizen Journalists' in his book - 'We the Media. Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People'. It introduces the concept that the Internet is democratising the producion of the media and he quotes examples of newspapers and web sites produced by the people who consume the media.
Dan Gilmour uses his book to explore the growing power of the 'citizen journalist' - However, he suggests that this poses both a risk and an opportunity for the corporate communications profession, and questions the validity of what can be found online:
"The growth of grassroots journalism has been accompanied by serious ethical issues, including veracity and outright deception. Are traditional values compatible with this new medium?"
In the UK though, a paper produced for the media regulator, Ofcom, goes on to pose the conundrum that the Internet is both democratic, and may yet prove undemocratic. The writers suggest that interactivity enables citizens to be senders as well as receivers of messages - thus undermining the power of the traditional gatekeeper of the media. (1)
So it seems the new wave of 'citizen journalism' may yet give way to dominant commercial players - who may win out in the end . This raises the concern that the Internet may prove undemocratic, and ultimately reduce the diversity of voices.
Matt
(1) Livingstone, S., Van Couvering, E., & Thumim, N., (2004) Adult Media Literacy. A report compiled by the Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics, for Ofcom
Posted by: krk realty | 13 January 2012 at 06:28 AM