User:FengFang/sandbox

Citizen journalism in Canada
"Research Background" My research topic is citizen journalism in Canada. The purpose of the study is to analyze citizen journalism in Canada and how it affects media and democracy. As the development of modern journalism worldwide and citizens’ engagement with social media nowadays, the definition of journalism has come to a new sense. Citizen participating in journalism is not only a new presentation of democracy; it also indicates the significance of social media in our daily life. As in Canada, citizen journalism has just begun and its impact on the traditional way of processing information and news influential. The course is newspaper in Canadian Society, namely exploring the history, development and future prospects of newspaper in Canada. The two key questions from the courses are, what is the journalism’s broad role in society and why is it important, and also, what might journalism – specifically newspapers look like in 10 years time? In order to understand the topic better, research has to be done starts from the origin. By making connection between public sphere and citizen journalism, in order to critically analyze how citizen journalism is reshaping media and democracy in Canada. As a new and competitive participant in journalism, citizen journalism is blooming due to the advent of social media and blogging, which take the traditional role of newspaper in society to a further developmental state. Also, the use of social media platforms such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook becomes the main work place for citizen journalists, which has a significant effect on the projection on the future of newspaper: the newsprint demand would decline in Canadian market. So in order to connect the research topic with the course goals, my paper will be focus on two questions: (1) how does citizen journalism reshaping social media and democracy in Canada? (2) Controversy of Citizen Journalism in Canada and how it affects newspaper in the long run. In Peter Dahlgren’s work Communication and citizenship: journalism and the public sphere, he defines the term public sphere as “a concept which in the context of today’s society points to the issues of how and to what extent the mass media, especially in their journalistic role, can help citizens learn about the world, debate their responses to it and reach informed decisions about what coursed of action to adopt” (Dahlgren, 1993). As we known, the term public sphere has always existed as an appendage to democratic theory. As the ideal of democracy evolved historically, so has the view of desirability of the citizens to express their political views to the authorities. The revolution of mass media based democracy in the western culture coincided when mass media lead the role of dominant institutions of the public sphere. Somehow, some of the mainstream newspaper has become the voices of the authorities, which failed to interact with its readers and sometimes ignore the true price of the coverage, has seen to be not open enough for the new communication revolution era.

"Citizen journalism role in democracy" We express and experience democracy in public life, somehow, our formal experiences with democracy by watching television debates and reading news coverage on elections on the subway, is largely ineffective. As a consequence, the gap between citizens and government has grown. Citizens do not trust politicians when the promises were made, but they are not willing to engage in further political participation, but rather isolate themselves from public affairs. In order to change this dilemma, citizen journalism presents a unique way to maintain the relationship between democracy and citizens – by encourage them to be part of it, for example, in political elections, citizens in Canada need the best available information other than authoritative information to make decisions about the issues that shape our society, which would probably mislead us. Citizen journalism can provide intelligent, exclusive information, which can fulfill the mass media role in the public sphere. In Calvin F. Exoo’s work: The Pen and the Sword – Press, War, and Terror in the 21ST Century, he stated that “ Media democracy stated purpose for developing and participating in alternative media and citizen journalism is to create a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society, and enhance democratic values. Media democracy entails that media should be used to promote democracy, as well as the conviction that media itself should be democratic”, which indicates citizen journalism is important in decision making in a democratic society, because citizen journalists can produce and disseminate information and viewpoints that are marginalized by the mainstream medias. Many people in the Canada believe politics and the news media are engaged in a dysfunctional embrace, in which a lack of openness and trust distorts the public debate. For example, in June 2010, the G20 summit in Toronto, citizen journalism was on full display during the protests and riots, they used their smart phones post pictures and video report on the ground during the chaos swarming the city. Instead of posting edited scene for the riots, citizen journalists are more likely present the raw material to their readers and let them know the naked truth behind the summit, and in order to do that, involves risking personal security, “ Perhaps the best way of understanding police behavior at this juncture is to recognize that almost everyone in that crowd had some sort of camera-equipped mobile device, which meant that, in the minds of the police, almost everyone was a potential journalist”, quoted from the CBC news report The new journalism and the G20 by Ira Basen. The converge of the G20 is a rise in Canadian citizen journalism. Citizen journalists also express a free way that everyone can be a journalist. In other big events, such as Occupy Toronto, almost everyone in the protestors’ crowd that owns a camera-equipped mobile device can be a potential journalist, and attract readers to their stories. “In 2004, political bloggers were invited to the democratic and republican national conventions for the first time, in recognition of the fact that some of them have more readers and carry more weight than their mainstream colleagues” (Basen, 2010), Citizen journalism has the influential power in democracy that cannot be underestimated.

"Citizen journalism and social media" Compare to the professional journalists, Canadian citizens without professional journalism training create a gateway gather and distribute the information and news via social media, gaining feedback and forming conversation by the interaction between the writer and the readers. The idea of generating the knowledge and wisdom increase the citizen evolvement in policy process, as well as information exchange in different aspects in everyday’s life. In this sense, social media tools play a significant role in the citizen journalism in Canadian politics “as the simplification of online-publishing technology and software allows citizens to be come active contributors to the online political dialogue.” The transformation from traditional media to social media has a strong impact on the rise of citizen journalism in Canada. The decline of newspaper has shown that buying newspaper is no longer the most popular way to get information and news. TV news that spreading news with graphic and audio is more of a deep and effective way, but since the use of Internet and creation of social media, newspaper and TV news have become less significant in information distribution. Social media platforms such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook can share instant news and thoughts unedited, it creates a new gateway for people to get information and news fast and fresh. Therefore, people do not rely on official edited newspaper and TV news no more, however, it also increases their interests to be part of the process. It comes to the appearance of freelance writer and citizen journalists. What makes the newly rise journalism so interesting – and of importance to journalists themselves? The engagement of social media and citizen journalism is not simply the innovation they present using interactive communication, but also has a fundamental changes in the news business – the smash of digital technology. With all these online changes are taking place, such as Openfile (www.openfile.ca) and The Grid (www.thegridto.com) that aimed to report community-powered news in Canada, as well as the instance micro-blogging website Twitter, which generates tons of individual opinions and reports everyday. Some of this information can actually be valuable sources for story ideas and contacts for certified journalist, and they can also help them connecting directly with the communities they covered. The shift from paper-print news to digital journal is happening, the readers/audiences demand news service must be able to provide content and can be seen, heard or read any time and any place. Also with the challenge of the citizen journalist, the journalist’s role is now to concentrate more on how when and where they can add value through analysis, context, background and range, which can provide the readers and audience with the most valuable information, gives them deep thoughts, in order to build up a interactive communication system. Because one of the reasons that citizen journalism is distinguished from traditional journalism is that, citizen journalism provide a platform for the readers and audiences to actually share their opinions, feedbacks. When traditional newspaper has a restriction on what should be written in the report and what should be excluded, and they have a hard time to accept the social function including engage with readers in the comments in the new media tools. However, as a certified reporter, more restriction is applied, either on their work or personal social media account, in order to protect them from unintentional use of their information. In a letter from Toronto Star to its employee on the use the social media, it says, “ anything published on social media – whether on Star sites or personal platforms – cannot reveal information about content in development, newsroom issues or Star sources. Negative commentary about your colleagues or workplace will not be tolerated.” which implies that as certified journalists, their role of news reporter refrain them from debating issues with readers to avoid the suggestion that they might be biased in their reporting. Overall, citizen journalism is blooming mainly because of 3 reasons, the rise of new social media, the more complete coverage in local community issues and an interactive communication system that traditional journalism cannot afford.

"Citizen journalism in Canada" Citizen journalism in Canada is the movement of “ The voices of people who aren't official journalists and the information that they bring to the table, the thoughts, ideas, reflections that they have to contribute.” according to 2009 report Transcript: Paul Sullivan’s view of citizen journalism – Giving voice to people. Paul Sullivan, who used to the formal editor of the citizen journalism website: orato.com say, “citizen journalism is the mechanism by which that information will be gathered and disseminated and it adds great value to the public conversation.” Citizen journalism in Canada can be powerful way to circulate the information and news “ because of its speed and the ability of the fledgling industry to be anywhere at any time” if the posts can hold high standards of themselves. In order to promote citizen journalism and encourage citizens to take part in journalism in Canada, The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and the Canadian Journalism Project has provided comment forums as well as Facebook and twitter page where readers and communicate and tribute ideas and advices, or even post on their field notes. The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award, which is open to Canadian new photojournalist, from student to freelancers and photographers who is not working in professional publications. In The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s self establishment, it says “In order to preserve, provoke and enhance excellence in journalism, CJF is aimed to obtain powerful ideas and insight that contribute to knowledge and influence understanding by Recognition, Discussion, Information, and Education these four cornerstone”. Citizen journalism in Canada has not reach its maxima; it is not as mature as the citizen journalism in United Kingdom and United States. Because the majority peaceful Canadian is less involved in politics, somehow the situation has changed. After the G20 Submit and the report from freelancers on the ground during the protest, more and more people realize what they hear from news is different from what the individual reporters put on the independent media sites. In CBC news report: The new journalism and the G20, it describe the rise of citizen journalists, “Today, in the aftermath of the G20 confrontations, much of the anger currently directed at the Toronto police revolves around its treatment of people who, until recently, would never have been considered to be members of the media club: bloggers, the so-called citizen journalists and people reporting for ‘independent media’ sites”, what happened on the streets during the protest that weekend might mark the turning point of citizen journalists in Canada when the tool of media production is now belong to everyone.

"Controversy of Citizen journalism in Canada" The credibility of citizen journalism in Canada is controversial for its poor writing skills and biased reporting, however, according to Kapica, the formal editor of the Globe and Mail, “if citizen journalism becomes mainstream, then it too will be criticized for not being trustworthy.” Professional journalism is characterized by its professional writing skills, unbiased angle and exclusive sources of information, that characteristics raise a question: are citizen journalists more trustworthy than professional journalists? As bloggers and online writers become more prevalent in news industry, the issue of trust and competency has become highly contested and considered. Some might say that professionals are ruled by the information the newspapers are willing to print and the fear of offending supporters, so their reports will remain unbiased. However, the issue of trustworthiness in news industry is all about whether the information is accurate, well researched and analyzed. Professional journalists had the education to take the position in field, and keep their own biases segregated to editorial and opinions. But, most importantly, some say citizen journalism is more trustworthy because they examine what is relevant at the scene and they talk about interpersonal experiences. And yet, internet gives unlimited voices to any obscene, dangerous, or libelous information that nay unscrupulous person posts, and internet allows for vast and unchecked copyright infringements, and the plagiarist cannot be tracked. Lacking of understandings of the necessity of interviewing people and quoting reliable sources, Canadian citizen journals facing critical judgments. Paul Knox, Chair of the school Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto, says in order to increase the reliability of citizen journalism, “Trustworthy user-generated news has to be subject to the same quality –control as the mainstream journalism.” Can news be certified? Can we include in our journalism information about the way we collect and report information? These are questions that beg a wide and noisy conversation about the creditability of citizen journalism. It is not only applied to citizen journalism, so does professional journalism, in a report of The Nieman Foundation For Journalism at Harvard, there is a comment of Citizen journalism and its reliability, “News organizations are accustomed to being the gatekeepers of information. But with the Internet’s emergence, information has broken free and become commoditized and democratized. Such change also puts the gatekeeper under the spotlight. We are watched and assessed more closely now by those whom we serve. Such observation can be very uncomfortable, but we’d better get used to it. Transparency about the news selection and editing process is now as important as the journalism itself in retaining public trust. If we act openly and honestly, even in the face of criticism, it will increase confidence in what we do”.

"The rise of citizen journalism and the future of newspaper" Of all the “old” media, newspaper lost to the Internet. Circulation has been falling in Canada, and the rise of social media has hastened the decline. In the book “The Vanishing Newspaper”, Philip Meyer calculates that the first quarter of 2043 will be the moment when newsprint dies in America as the last exhausted reader tosses aside the last crumpled edition. And with the impact that citizen journalism brings to the professional journalism and the newspaper, newspaper in Canada seem to decline, but long the long run, newspaper’s industry still remains a giant to beat. Mike Bocking, president of CEP Local 2000, in his work Media Union of BC, concludes, “Certainly there are challenges and opportunities to all media because of the Internet and digital technologies, from books to music to television and to magazines and newspapers. But by far, a greater challenge is to free these cultural industries from the financial and corporate predatorism that has dominated newspapers and television, in particular. The recent sale, or resale, of CanWest newspapers is just another small example of a financial process and economic system that needs to be radically rethought”. On the other thought, what is the future of Citizen journalism? As in Canada, Citizen journalism just takes off its very first step, with all the doubts about its possibility to go further, it need to improve its credibility and construct an efficient system to process all the information and sources. In conclusion, Citizen journalism in Canada has much potential to success and it should not be afraid of failing in experientments. Using the quotation to end the research, from Dan Gillmor, the author of "We the Media" and one of the movement's leading theorists - noted in his keynote speech that, despite the many successes of citizen media thus far, "It is still early in the development and we still have far to go."

"Works Cited" 1.	Dahlgren, peter. Communication and citizenship: journalism and the public sphere. New York: Routledge., 1991. Print 2.	Exoo, Calvin.F. : The Pen and the Sword – Press, War, and Terror in the 21ST Century. New York: SAGE., 2010. Print. 3.	Tremayne, Mark. Blogging, Citizenship and the Future of media. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print. 4.	Russell, Nick. Morals and the media: ethics in Candian journalism. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2005. Print. 5.	Basen Ira. “Transcript: Paul Sullivan’s view of citizen journalism – Giving voice to the people” CBC Radio Sunday Edition documentary News 2.0. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2009/06/17/f-transcript-paul-sullivan-news20.html. CBS news. June 17, 2009 6.	Hogg, Christopher. “Is there credibility in citizen journalism?” Digital Journal. http://digitaljournal.com/article/271657. May 13, 2009 7.	Hogg, Christopher. “ In mainstream media we trust?” Digital Journal. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/272273. May 12, 2009 8.	Hogg Christopher. “ Did the internet kill journalism?” Digital Journal. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/271696. May 11, 2009 9.	Bocking, Mike. “Do Canada’s Newspapers Have a Future?” The Tyee. http://thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2010/05/24/CanadasNewspapers/. May, 2010

Silverberg, David. “ The rise of citizen journalism during Toronto G20 summit” http://digitaljournal.com/article/293963 Digital Journal. June 28, 2010 10.	Gillmor, Dan. We the media: grassroots journalism by the people, for the people, Sebastopol: O’Reilly Media. 2004 11.	Meyer, Phillip. The vanishing newspaper: saving journalism in the information age. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. 2009 12.	The Canadian Journalism Foundation. http://cjf-fjc.ca/ 13.	The Canadian Journalism Project. http://j-source.ca/ 14.	Ingram, Mathew. Newspaper and Social Media: Still not really getting it. http://gigaom.com/2011/04/05/newspapers-and-social-media-still-not-really-getting-it/ GIGAOM. 2011.