Citizen Journalism

As technology and new media advances, people start to make use of both ways to make communications, as well as a way for them to make their comments whenever available.

Now you don't just see traditional journalist in magazines, newspaper or television news. The journalist network is getting bigger with the involvement with the citizens, or what we call "Citizen Journalism". Everyone get to see and observe different things daily. Even trivia events could become new, even to the extend of headline news when such news gets involvement of other citizens.

Traditional Journalism versus Citizen Journalism
Information and reports are gathered from various sources and are compiled into a report with accuracy, quality and styles, and gets edited by professional journalists. Wheareas, the citizens would gather the information themselves, from what they see and observe, and would post up online without professional editing, and often the citizen views are more one-sided, making recommendations.

Traditionally, news and informations are selected professionally, and some news had to be censored. Since the new media have been working towards a more "open" mindset, some of the news online may tend to be gossips, uncensored, privacy invaded, or even attention seeking types content.

Citizen journalism has shown an increasing popularity over the years. Examples such as the STOMP, a website where citizens are able to post their daily observations and also participates in forum discussion on different issues.

Invasion of privacy
We agree that some people engage in indecent behaviours. However, I do not think it is right to take pictures of them in action, and worse still, to post these pictures online, showing everyone and get their criticisms. STOMPer take pictures of couples kissing, hugging in public places. Although the faces may be censored, but I do not think it is appropriate to post these picture online without consent.

I mean, you may think you are able to get away with it. But have you ever think how the feeling is like if your pictures are being taken unaware? If you are saying people behaving immorally, reflect about your behaviour too.

Reliable?
In STOMP, it may not be just one party contributing to the post. Victims in photos may take revenge on those which took pictures and complain about them, which often end up in quarrels and arguements, ich sometimes, make these people look childish. Those who have took pictures will look so narrow-minded too, even though they brought up some topics which they find it worth discussing over.

In an example, STOMPer "A" posted a photo of an incident. (Example A) However,when STOMPer "B" found out that "A" had made him a laughing stock, "B" tried to take revenge by making fun of "A" (Example B). It ended up as a session of laughing stock, a foolish arguement.

As seen in the arguement, it is obvious that STOMPer "B" came up with false accusation, and he was criticised even! And he produced fake evidence to take revenge. It isn't totally reliable afterall!