Traditional Vs. Cyber Media

Citizen Journalism is a phenomenon of the 21^st century that allows people to participate in the act of journalism, simply with the use of the internet. People can publicize anything they want, whenever they want, and don’t have to follow any rules. In the case of the death of Neda Aghasoltani, people in Iran were able to transmit videos from their cell phones to a cyber source that made its way around the globe, making her murder a world-wide phenomenon (Thomas). Citizen journalists, in this case, held the key to causing uproar against the unfair Iranian election, as well as informing the world about the injustice in Iran. However, citizen journalism can cause some controversy. According to Mark Glaser, a reporter for PBS, “Many professional journalists believe that only a trained journalist can understand the rigors and ethics involved in reporting the news” (Glaser). Although a small pain, having citizen journalism allows people with camera phones and blogs have a true, recognized opinion, a privilege once only known to reporters and media sources.

Walter Lippman writes in his work, Public Opinion, that there is an, “Enormous discretion as to what facts and impressions shall be reported” (198) when the “Publicity man,” the “censor and propagandist” controls the news. This control forces people to have opinions which are swayed by the media. Nowadays, however, social networking has allowed for citizen journalists, to write blogs and join Facebook groups which highlight their own opinions, allowing others to be enlightened by their ideas.

In cases like the cell phone videos of Neda, we see a productive global narrative. Citizen journalists took pictures of life-changing events, and were then able to disperse them throughout the world. Not only were videos and pictures taken, but social advocacy Facebook groups devoted toward events like Neda’s death, helped to publicize news stories through the citizens. According to Mike Westling, “Facebook combines the best of features and local bulletin-boards, newspapers, and town hall meetings and places them in one location that is available at any time and practically any location” (Westling, 4). Because of this, Facebook’s journalism abilities have much potential. However, there are more than a few unproductive uses of social networking. While Facebook “poking” and Tweeting statuses like, “Taking a shower” are fun, they have no relevance in the grand scheme of things. Because of the vast “social” aspect of social networking, finding important information can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Right now, we are definitely in a transition period of traditional media becoming more and more “cyber.” Although citizen journalism helps to spread the word quickly, easily, and from person to person, there is also a lot of digging required to get quality information. A world without traditional media, for me, is unimaginable because of this. Although I use the internet to find news, I do so through traditional sources. To me, there is a separating line between social networking and news media that right now, I can not imagine being crossed.

1. For Neda. Dir. Anthony Thomas. HBO, 2010. Documentary.

2. Glaser, Mark. "Your Guide to Citizen Journalism." PBS Online 27 Sept. 2006. Web. 20 Jan. 2011. .

3. Lippman, Walter. Public Opinion. [S.l.]: Nu Vision Publications, LLC, 2007. Print.

4. Westling, Mike. "Expanding the Public Sphere: The Impact of Facebook on Political Communication." UW-Madison (May 2007). Web. 19 Jan. 2011.