Citizen Journalism

    With the growth of society, journalism is no longer involves the only professional reporter or journalist, which need training and rich with profession knowledge. Otherwise, general public are allowed to collect, disseminate and analyze the news and information in society today, especially through the means of the internet. Such phenomenon, termed as citizen journalism has gradually becomes common due to the modern technology. For instance, blogger considered as the most famous platform for the production of citizen journalist in internet environment. 

    How the citizen journalism differ with traditional or professional journalism? The central difference between both of these journalism is profession verification regarding to specific knowledge. Besides, the professional journalism is generally working with media industry that provided with financial source, and so its objectivity is focus on its own interests. Professional journalism is especially essential with the existence of financial and economic support.

     Nonetheless, citizen journalism and traditional journalism are similar in the presences of bias element. Regarding to the financial support, professional journalism usually publish or post something after the filtration to protect their own benefit. Also, citizen journalism is contains the stereotype and prejudice because everyone allowed to express themselves with their view of point in social networking site, where the information is always partial and difficult to verify.

Undeniably, citizen journalism provides an opportunity for everyone to have freedom of expression, and it provides a few good outcomes in reality. The best example can be shown from Asian tsunami flood disaster that occurred on 26th December 2004. The real situation of disaster was reported by an ordinary people with phone video before the presence and action of professionals. As citizen journalist is those who actually capture the happening current events and then share it to the rest of the world, the news or information is significantly important. 

On the other hand, the major problem of citizen journalism is lack of regulation. Since individual could make declaration without any control and forces, the statement or post made might predisposition to own belief. Individual could alter the meaning of story based on their perception and view of site. This indicates that the statements posted are usually self-proclaiming. 

For instance, Wee Meng Chee, who also known as Namewee had becomes popular after the releasing of controversial song attached with national anthem of Malaysia, Negaraku. Does he really doing right or provides good contribution to this society from his work? In the late of October 2009, Namewee made a video clip that highlighted about the blackout night in his hometown exclude local TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad) remains lit. The video storied about the process that he went to TNB to look for answer, but escorted out from facilities by security. The scene included the happened quarrel and scold. For standing on neutral position, the action of Namewee considered as aggressive and means to attack TNB, even though his motivation may be kindly want to seek for truth. The video can refers as below:

      Citizen journalism is good and bad at the same time. It is good to inform the world about the happening event, but we do not know whether their motivation is derived from good or bad thinking. Or else, they just want to gain popularity? To create crisis? Citizen journalism is good as it allows the freedom of voice for everyone. However, the responsibility is needed among the writer and reader, where the writer should realize their power that could unintentionally influence the opinion of others, while reader responsible to identify the credibility of source, whether the writers are truly knowledgeable or simply post for fun.