Citizen and Community Journalism - Midterm Examination

1. Differentiate Citizen and Community Journalism in your own words.

 

Both are forms of journalism that does not require professional training or a four-year course degree, they only differ based on their approach. For example, citizen journalism can be disseminated by an individual who happens to experience the news firsthand using his/her digital means, though this can be the same thing with community journalism in some aspects, only that the second one requires a deeper connection or understanding inside the community. To better understand local concerns, one factor done by community journalism is face-to-face interactions. 

Citizen journalism can go beyond the borders without worrying about a certain limitation or scope. On the other hand, community journalism tends to focus on what is really happening in certain areas/communities where community journalists need to shed light on. These two categories sharing both purpose of spreading information and news, they vary in accordance to aspects where one can really go out there, and one which highlights what is happening in places far from the reach of traditional journalism, yet show stories worth-telling. 

2. Choose a unique local issue that you think can be resolved by community journalism and why.

I live in a barangay in Pandi, Bulacan that is somehow, far beyond the reach for access to necessities.

Our area is pretty much isolated, well, not exactly since marketplaces can still be reached in a span of ten (10) minutes using small modes of transportation or a 20-minute walk, but compared to our other neighboring barangays where there are already establishments and fast-food chains, even food deliveries does not cater to us. I've heard a lot about how people around me complain this specific problem too, and I believe we are being left behind and convenience is nowhere near our reach. This has been a constant issue in our community even before my family and I moved here two years ago.

Community journalism cannot entirely resolved this, rather, make a platform for this to be heard. I believe that with the collective voices of people in my community amplified by community journalism, this can reach our local officials and would attend to their people's needs.