Okay, so we have all seen the TikTok videos and Instagram posts of people taking journalism to the streets or yelling BREAKING NEWS into the camera. This falls under citizen journalism, and it is currently
all the rage.
But what is it
actually, and what do you need to know before getting into it yourself?
media update's Alrika Möller explores the ins and outs of citizen journalism:
So, what is it really?
Citizen journalism is known by
many names and
titles — such as:
- guerilla journalism
- vigilante journalism, or
- participatory journalism.
This type of journalism only happens when a
normal person, who is
not affiliated with any
brand,
media company, or
publication, takes on the call to journalism and reports on news and current events.
The most common occurrence is people discussing newsworthy topics on podcasts, videos, or even blogs — or when they go out and talk to the public to get their opinions.
If you are working under a company name, it is
not citizen journalism.
How do you get started?
Step one is deciding what type of journalism fits your
vibe. There are many different types of journalism. It mainly depends on the topics you decide to focus on.
If you are more of an
investigative journalist, then you gravitate more to hard news or shocking stories that will allow you to dig in.
Sports journalists love all things sports and will enjoy talking about the news surrounding specific teams and players.
Political journalism focuses on political events and news happening right now.
You get the idea. A popular take at the moment is to roam the streets asking
strangers for their opinions on:
- current events
- trends
- pop culture, and
- basically anything else.
Once you make the big decision, you then choose a medium.
No, not a psychic. Medium means where you want to
share your content.
Are you a blogger that can write
interesting pieces at least once a week, or are you a video person that can edit videos or have the dream of
thriving in front of the camera?
Do you want to do a podcast where you can talk in your
sweatpants with notes and a microphone for long periods of time, or are you hoping to post short
punchy content on TikTok and Instagram?
In the TikTok world we live in, it has become the
most popular medium — alongside podcasts — but the
OG mediums such as blogs and Youtube videos are still getting a lot of traction.
So the choice is yours.The main thing is to find the one that works
best for you and to ensure that you are
comfortable with it.
How do you do it ethically?
Ethical concerns come up with just about every form of journalism or public content, but with citizen journalism there is a
bit more to think about.
You want to make sure that you do your
research and check your
facts. Citizen journalism has become quite popular, as most people don’t want to hear from
Big Media, they want the
every man to explain it to them.
This means that you might be someone's
only source of information. Don’t lead them
astray! Check your facts
before you publish or post to make sure both you and your followers are safe.
Where you check your facts is also important. Be
transparent of where you do your research or what your sources are. If you are open and honest about where you get your information, it will allow your followers to do some research themselves and decide if they want to agree or not.
Another thing to keep in mind is
consent.
Whether you are reporting someone else's story, using their image or posting a video with them
in it, it is important to get their consent. Privacy is a
big deal for most people and you want to respect it.
Be honest and open with people about your
journalistic intentions before you talk to or film them. That way, they can give
you the yay or nay beforehand.
With great journalism comes great responsibility. Are you following any good citizen journalists at the moment? Let us know in the comment section below.
If you are looking to start a career in journalism, we can help! Check out these Careers in broadcast journalism.
*Image courtesy of Canva