NDM News: Citizen Journalism and hyper-reality

NDM News: Citizen Journalism and hyper-reality

The Rise and Rise of UGC

Examples:

·        People use devices like phones to record live events and use the internet to post the content.

·        Facebook

Theory (audience reception etc.):

·         They will feel like they will be getting more coverage as there’s

Benefits to institutions:

·         This will benefit big institutions such as the BBC as news channels can now use the user generated content to show their audiences evidence to a report through television or their website.

·         This could save them time as they wouldn’t have to the scene in which it happened.

Benefits to audience:

·         They will feel like they will be getting more coverage

·         They will have first-hand proof.

Wider issues and debates:

·         The problem with user generated content is that it doesn’t provide any opinions. However, is does allow us to challenge the position of power as they could be exposed.

SHEP:

·         Due to the raise of user-generated content it could risk journalist losing their job.

·         This would mean that massive institution could save money as they wouldn’t hire that many journalists.

3) What is meant by the term ‘citizen journalist’?

Citizen journalism refers to the reporting of news events by members of the public using the Internet to spread the information. Citizen journalism can be a simple reporting of facts and news that is largely ignored by large media companies. It is easily spread through personal websites, blogs, micro blogs, and social media and so on. Some types of citizen journalism also act as a check on the reporting of larger news outlets by providing alternative analysis.

4) What was one of the first examples of news being generated by ‘ordinary people’?

Rodney King was one of the first examples of news being generated by ‘ordinary people’ as he was brutally beaten by the police in LA which was recorded by police in the early 1990’s.

5) List some of the formats for participation that are now offered by news organisations.

Chat rooms, message rooms and online blogs.

6) What is one of the main differences between professionally shot footage and that taken first-hand (UGC)?

Professional footage will almost defiantly be first shown on the TV whereas USG will go viral on social media first.
7) What is a gatekeeper?

A gatekeeper is someone who decides and regulates what is or isn't news and what will or won't be broadcast.

8) How has the role of a gatekeeper changed?

I believe that the role of the gatekeepers hasn’t much changed. This is the case as people now use online blogs where they can share their opinions on issues and debates.

9) What is one of the primary concerns held by journalists over the rise of UGC?
Lots of Jobs will be lost due this matter.

10) Offer your own opinion (critical autonomy) on the following:

What impact is new/digital media having on:

·                     news stories

allows institutions to show evidence of news stories to increase trust with audiences

·                     the news agenda (the choice of stories that make up the news)

·                     the role of professionals in news

Hyper-reality and the digital renaissance' 

Examples

·         Use of social media such as snap chat and Facebook  in which allows news institutions to provide updated news for people to see

Theories 

·         Blumer and Katz- Uses and gratifications, personal identity

·         Hyperaemic needle

Positive aspects of new technology (or 'digital renaissance' 

·         It allows citizen journalism (Citizen journalism refers to the reporting of news events by members of the public using the Internet to spread the information)

Negative aspects of new technology on audiences and society  

·         Journalist could lose their jobs

Wider issues and debates 

·          This could affect people in a negative way as it could lead to cyber bullying.

3) The article was written in 2009. Offer three examples of more recent social networking sites or uses of technology that support the idea of a 'digital renaissance'.

·         Twitter,

·         Instagram

·         Facebook

4) How do live streaming services such as Periscope or Facebook Live fit into the idea of a 'digital renaissance'? Are these a force for good or simply a further blurring of reality?

The way in which it fits into the idea of the ‘digital renaissance’ as they offer more realistic view on some issues.

5) How can we link the 'digital renaissance' to our case study on news? Is citizen journalism a further example of hyper-reality or is it actually making news more accurate and closer to real life?

The idea of citizen journalism provides a way in which people can identify what’s happening as it is happening. However news is recorded to symbolise a specific point of view.