Power to the People

In the past, traditional print media lived by the antiquated quotation: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one,” as said by Abbott Joseph Liebling.  We have seen how today’s digital media proves that this is no longer the case. The focus of this chapter entitled “Citizen Journalists?” details how the two livelihoods intersect in the new age.

Rettberg lists three ways that blogs intersect with journalism in his chapter.  These examples include:

1. Blogs provide firsthand reports from ongoing events, such as war, natural disaster, or tragedy (e.g. live blogging)
2. Some bloggers set out to tell stories that may have already been told, but investigate deeper into the details that mainstream media may fail to address
3.  “Filterbloggers” follow mainstream media and filter stories according to their interests, carefully monitoring one issue or person

Additionally, Rettberg claims in his chapter, “Blogs rely on personal authenticity, whereas traditional journalism relies on institutional credibility.”  Traditional news sites such as CNN and Fox News must provide factual information, report in a timely manner, and uphold a common code of ethics.  Bloggers have the unique ability to remain anonymous (if they choose to do so) so long as they create a sense of trustworthiness and credibility for their readers.  Not having to please the entire nation as a blogger enables that person to write more opinionatedly and to their target audience.  However, verifiable facts are still regarded as the most important part of a blog.  If a blogger claims to be an eyewitness, people expect them to actually be one and report with as much transparency as possible.  Would you continue to read a blog if you had suspicions that they fabricated some of their stories?

In today’s society, blogs and mainstream media are inseparable.  Blogs need mainstream media in the same way that mainstream media needs blogs.  Both report on events and aim to answer the question: Can citizens also be journalists?

I believe wholeheartedly citizens can be journalists.  Take for example the student who blogged during the Virginia Tech shooting, or the soldier who blogged from Baghdad.  These ordinary people are proof of citizens capable of journalism for the greater good. However, these citizen journalists should still be held to the same standard as professional journalists.  Kovach and Rosentiel suggest five principles regarding verification of information.     

Intellectual principles of a science of reporting:

1. Never add anything that was not there
2. Never deceive the audience
3. Be transparent as possible about your methods and motives
4. Rely on your own original reporting
5. Exercise humility

Which of these principles would be the most difficult to follow?  Which do you think is most easily broken by journalists?