Citizen and Community Journalism - Midterm Examination I Kaycee Anne T. Dionio

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

Citizen journalism, as the name implies, is not conducted by professional journalists who have been trained in the ins and outs of journalism, but by ordinary citizens stepping up to share what they see and know. Unlike professional journalists trained rigorously in the processes of information gathering, verification, and reporting, citizen journalists are often individuals from diverse backgrounds with little to no formal training in journalism. 

Simply put, citizen journalists are not people with fancy degrees in journalism or similar fields; they are just everyday individuals with something to say. Most of the time, they're just regular people who happened to witness something noteworthy and chose to film it, typically using technologies such as smartphones and social media platforms to document these events. 

While they may lack formal expertise, citizen journalists contribute to the press just as much as professionals do by covering stories overlooked by traditional media and offering immediate reporting of news events. Moreover, without gatekeepers, they play a significant role in shaping public discourse and holding authority accountable, but this could also be a disadvantage, as there is a possibility that their reporting could be marred by bias and inaccuracies.

Community journalism, in contrast, is carried out by professional journalists. However, their emphasis is not solely on breaking news events or conventional news topics. Instead, they delve into the stories of the people to shed light on the challenges confronting the community and probe deeper into the root causes of their struggles. By doing so, they give voice to those who are often marginalized, ensuring that their issues are not only heard but also understood by the broader public, and compelling authorities to recognize their problems as significant concerns worthy of addressing.

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

The proliferation of super minimart chains, such as Alfamart, Puremart, O!Save, and Dali, alongside the presence of malls, is a concerning trend that I've observed not only in my community but also in numerous other areas. I've witnessed the closure of longstanding sari-sari stores and family-owned mini groceries as these corporate giants expand their reach. 

Given that these corporations are expanding not only into guarded subdivisions but also into small barangays, this trend hints at the encroachment of monopoly practices, hypergentrification, and the demise of local businesses.

As a journalism student, I believe that tackling this issue through community journalism is important. By amplifying the voices of affected residents and shedding light on the broader implications of having multiple markets in a single community, we can delve into the impact of corporate expansion on our community's livelihoods. I think addressing this issue is important to formulate solutions and advocate for policies that prioritize the interests of local businesses and residents over unchecked corporate growth.