Citizen Journalism

Citizen journalism refers to the practice of members of the public contributing to the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of news. While nonprofessionals have contributed to the creation and circulation of news throughout history, the term citizen journalism was coined in the early 2000s to describe the largely online phenomena of members of the public producing and sharing news content on blogs, podcasts, video-sharing sites, and social media.

In citizen journalism, activists, scholars, and nonprofit foundations alike have seen the potential for more civically minded and inclusive news. Many professional journalists have viewed it as a more questionable and amateurish practice, at risk for perpetuating stories of dubious veracity. Nevertheless, citizen journalism has become a reliable supplier of information, images, and insight into the larger journalistic field. ...