Citizen and Community Journalism, The Midterm Exam

1.) Differentiate citizen journalism and community journalism in only 6-10 sentences.

What distinguishes the two aforementioned types of journalism are the key aspects which give it meaning and purpose. From the degree of responsibility, methods of organization, and purpose; these are what one must consider when differentiating between citizen journalism and community journalism.

Citizen journalism centers on the involvement of the public in disseminating and recording information of events; they are not necessarily composed of journalists, but are part of the journalistic process. People who do citizen journalism are generally not aware that what they are doing is journalism, because of that, they are not expected to adhere to the ethics and guidelines that are required of professional journalists. Common examples of citizen journalism are: posts on social media and the live filming or picture-taking of notable events.

Community journalism focuses on the stories of small or local communities, rather than issues that are relevant on a national or global scale. It is a type that focuses on gathering news, such as existing issues or events that may go unreported due to the location, income class, and “relevancy” of the communities being reported on. Unlike more prominent and large-scale media businesses, which may venture out for news beyond their headquarters, community journalism is often locally organized by smaller businesses or independent journalists for the consumption and benefit of readers in their respective localities.

2.) Choose a unique local issue which you think can be resolved by community journalism and why. Explain in 6-10 sentences.

A local issue that has become increasingly evident over the past few days is the fatigue and heat brought about by the El Niño, leaving residents hesitant to depart from their homes and unmotivated due to the rising temperatures. In this scenario, it’s good to spread awareness of what experts advise on, especially when it comes to heat strokes, dehydration, and more. This can even be an opportunity to promote local businesses that are still open, and are capable of selling affordable cold beverages for potential customers. 

Community journalism allows people to discover or receive reminders on information that is relevant to their communities. In the context of a situation like this, it can encourage people to support small businesses beyond bigger brands and remain updated on the recent developments or advisories related to the El Niño. Eventually, even as a factor that contributed in finding a solution to the fatigue that residents are experiencing, as the community becomes more aware of their situation and informed on what to do.