INTRODUCTION
The question demands that we present how
Citizen Journalists through the use of social media affect the activities of traditional
media and how the latter is strategizing to meet the changing trend.
In our presentation, we will define
social and traditional media as well as Citizen Journalism.
We will then talk about the evolution of Citizen Journalism and also highlight its
advantages and disadvantages. Our presentation will touch on the difference
between professional and citizen journalism and move onto the relationship that
exists between technology and citizen journalism. Traditional media, their functions,
challenges, and how they are strategizing to meet the changing trend will then
be discussed thoroughly with relevant examples.
DEFINITION
OF TERMINOLOGIES
New Media
as a wide range of changes in media production, distribution, and use. It can also be seen as the
future of communications. Lister (2004)
It can also be defined as the countless
array of internet based sharing tools and platforms that increase and enhance
the sharing of information.
In Ghana, New Media is seen as the
transfer of text, photos, audio, video and information on/with the internet.
Traditional
media has been used for years in the
forms of advertising, sales promotions, public relations and direct marketing.
It encompasses TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, books, and movies. Sparkable
(2013)
Citizen Journalism on the other hand is
a wide range of activities in which everyday people contribute information or
commentary about news events. Singh (2013)
It can also be defined as
the state where people formerly known as the audience employ the press tools they
have in their possession to inform one another.
As a group, we see Citizen Journalism as the state where members of the public perform the
process of collecting, reporting, analysing and disseminating news and
information. For example a citizen journalist writes
about a town council meeting on a blog, capture eyewitness moments with a
digital camera and post to a news site, grab video of something “newsy” and
post to YouTube etc.
In other words they [Citizen
Journalists] create an augment, or fact-check media on their own or in collaboration with others.
ARGUMENTS
On the evolution of Citizen Journalism, the subject matter
has become more and more popular over the years especially encouraged by the
current advances in technology [Web 2.0] and social media.
Some of the advantages of
Citizen Journalism includes leading professional journalists to the site of the
news, it also has on the spot footage and pictures of the event; pictures that
society would never be able to see if it was not for a citizen who took the
pictures example is the footage from the Westgate Mall in Kenya. Every bit of news counts (speed) and allows for the uploading
of news and information instantaneously.
Social media sites such as Twitter,
Facebook,
Flickr
and YouTube
etc. allow for the uploading of any thoughts and news at any time during the
day.
News and events can be
discussed as soon as it happens on these sites unlike waiting until a story is
aired on TV, radio.
On the disadvantages,
citizen journalism lack audience, in that is if a news story is published on
Facebook and Twitter, audience is limited to your friends, if posted on a blog the
audience tends to be a bit greater but would never be as big as a worldwide
broadcast on the television or radio.
Citizen journalists just do
not have a large enough audience to make a real change in the world.
The difference between a
professional and a citizen journalist [amateur] is professionalism and passion.
The former knows a lot about the process [journalism,] but not the topic
whereas the latter is passionate about the topic, but does not know the
process.
Technology has improved
greatly since traditional media was first introduced. Now current advances have
made it much easier for citizens to become journalists.
Cell phones now come fully
prepared for the reporting of accidents and items worth talking about. They
have cameras and have social media applications installed on them that makes
for editing etc. Thus making it very easy for a citizen to collect and report
the news at hand.
Over the years people have
subscribed to these media and constantly consumed texts from them.
The major function of the
traditional media is to inform, entertain, and also influence the opinions of
the audience leaving them with issues to think about. It is these functions
that empower it as the fourth estate of the realm.
Due to the rise in the popularity
of the internet, traditional media is facing challenges with a decline in advertising
revenue as an integral weakness.
The traditional media has
become less appealing to the youth since there is immediacy of news stories
when it comes to the internet and everyone can be a publisher.
This poses a threat to the
traditional media therefore the need to strategize to meet the changing trends.
Some media outlets have
already started adapting to the trend. For example, most media houses have websites
aimed at encouraging the audience to read, comment and contribute to their
content.
Embracing social media leads
to the improvement and growth of traditional media outlets, this allows audience
to see others’ opinions and suggestions to news and information. TV3
has incorporated stories from citizen journalists into
their major news bulletin in a segment dubbed “My News.”
Another example
is that, some organizations have realized that YouTube is the fastest growing
social media on the World Wide Web. This has encouraged them to post their
information directly on the site and afterward view the comments and number of
likes and dislikes.
The introduction
of tickers by the traditional media has also increased the speed
at which news stories are relayed to audience. Of course the use of Whatsapp, Viber and Twitter to elicit information and feedback from audiences
cannot be over emphasized in the Ghanaian media today.
In conclusion,
the media shares information with their audience and in turn air their views
thus promoting democracy since audiences are allowed to participate and share
their views. The quality of citizen journalism has been greatly increased and
once used appropriately, will increase the quality of traditional media.
Citizen
Journalists are entitled to their own opinions, through the social media; the traditional
media will be aware of these opinions and improve to suit their audience.
REFERENCE
Sparkable (2013). Traditional Media. <http://www.sparkable.com/marketing/traditional-media.php>.
(Updated 2013 accessed 19th October, 2013).
Lister, M.
(2009). New Media: A critical
Introduction. London: Routledge.
Singh K. L.
(2011). Citizen Journalism. http://www.slideshare.net/kerrylynn89/citizen-journalism-slides.
(Updated 2011 accessed 19th October, 2013)
GROUP MEMBERS
PATRICK OFORI NKUM
RICHARD KWASI ADJEI AGYAPONG
RICHARD KOFI KOTOKU
HARRIET BLESS NDANU
SANDRA AKLIPKE-OSEI
Pink is the color of universal love. Pink is a quiet color.
Lovers of beauty favor pink. A Pink carnation means “I will never forget you”.
Pink is a combination of red and white. The quality of energy in pink is
determined by how much red is present. White is the potential for fullness;
while red helps you to adhere that potential. Pink combines these energies,
shades of deep pink, such as magenta, are effective in neutralizing disorder
and violence. Some prisons use limited deep Pink toner to diffuse aggressive
behavior Pink provides feelings of caring, tenderness, self worth and love,
acceptance. Brighter Pink are youthful fun, and exciting while vibrant Pinks
have the same high energy as red, they are sensual and passionate without being
too aggressive.
The meaning of the color Pink varies from one country to the
around the globe. The Pink ribbon is an internationally recognized symbol of
hope awareness in the fight against breast cancer. In Japan, the color Pink has
a masculine association. The annual spring blooming of the Pink – blossomed
cherry trees (the Sakura) is said to represent the young Japanese warriors who
fell in battle in the prime of life. Jaipur city is a foremost tourist
attraction in India because of its superlative forts, grandiose palaces,
vivacious temples, multicolored lazars, pulsating streets, and its distinguished
Pink color to which the city owes its oft-used name “The Pink City”. The
Chinese had not recognized Pink until they had contact with Western culture and
the Chinese word for Pink translates a “foreign color”. Religiously and
mythological, the Pink color is associated with happiness and joy in
Catholicism.