Before we get down to the YAY and NAY of citizen journalism, I would like to share something from the lecture about journalism.
We were introduced to "The Elements of Journalism" by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosensteil,
which so happens to be our prescribed textbook for those taking Journalism this semester.
Allow me to share some important things that a journalist should note:
Allow me to share some important things that a journalist should note:
As a journalist, your first obligation is to the TRUTH
Journalistic truth is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, valid for not but subject to further investigation.
and then you ask yourself,
DO YOU SEE THIS HAPPENING IN THE NEWS WORLD AROUND US?
Since there are huge displays of STAR WARS at our very own Changi Airport...
How often do you even see yourself reading a news article without exclaiming: "Oh gosh this is just nonsense! This is so biased! This is obviously not true!"
But there you have it, all there, commonly found in our local newspapers, especially The Straits Times (the number one mouthpiece). To be honest, the interesting bits come in the comments section rather than the articles itself (especially when it is associated with politics, its like a keyboard war evolving)
So, are we really controlled by the media that feeds us information? Under the influence of the government body, with regulations of various broadcasting and publishing acts?
Not quite.
In this new age, we are allowed to look for our own information or even write information.
I present to you MOJO.
Wait... did you say mojo....jojo?
But there you have it, all there, commonly found in our local newspapers, especially The Straits Times (the number one mouthpiece). To be honest, the interesting bits come in the comments section rather than the articles itself (especially when it is associated with politics, its like a keyboard war evolving)
So, are we really controlled by the media that feeds us information? Under the influence of the government body, with regulations of various broadcasting and publishing acts?
Not quite.
In this new age, we are allowed to look for our own information or even write information.
I present to you MOJO.
Wait... did you say mojo....jojo?
No, not him.
MOJO = Mobile Journalists, where people can publish new articles on-the-go with their mobile devices. I guess all you need is just the Internet, isn't it.
And because it is so easy to publish stuff from our phones nowadays, everyone can be a writer on their own, giving rise to....
MOJO = Mobile Journalists, where people can publish new articles on-the-go with their mobile devices. I guess all you need is just the Internet, isn't it.
And because it is so easy to publish stuff from our phones nowadays, everyone can be a writer on their own, giving rise to....
Citizen Journalism aka. not mainstream media
And one widely read example would be......
It would come off as no surprise that people are actually turning to sites like Mothership, The Middle Ground for news. I wouldn't say that our mainstream media is really THAT terrible, but these sites are more fun and balanced to read!
Like you'll get things like this:
12 moderately cheem and atas foreign phrases S'poreans don't use because we have SinglishIt isn't exactly a "news" news article to gain information about the world, but it is still information that you would be interest, and would benefit from read. So much more fun reading things like these as compared to typical news! Although you may spot uncanny resemblances to the comments you see on TST or CNA's facebook postings, like the one below:
November 11, 2015
Because Singlish is the most shiok to the ears and the heart.
Source: Mothership.sg
What it means in English: Committing suicide
How we make do with Singlish: Khaw Boon Wan-ed
Source: Mothership.sg
Source: Mothership.sg
(To be honest, I learnt about the Singlish association before actually knowing of the word in English)
Sites like mothership provides a platform to talk about anything and everything. The good, the not so good, the bad, the horrible. And they did a pretty good coverage on the recent General Election in Singapore in September, everything was just.... so on point. (They have a tab titled "#GE2015" on their website you can go look at them!)
And the articles are rather neutral as compared to *ahem*
Politics and Journalism has to go together, they're tied to each other for life.
So here's one rather informative article about the reasons why the "strongest" opposition party lost in the polls, retaining only one GRC and one SMC with significantly less votes from last time.
Seems like a serious article? Don't worry there's so much more on the site! BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A CREATOR OF NEWS.
And the articles are rather neutral as compared to *ahem*
Politics and Journalism has to go together, they're tied to each other for life.
So here's one rather informative article about the reasons why the "strongest" opposition party lost in the polls, retaining only one GRC and one SMC with significantly less votes from last time.
Seems like a serious article? Don't worry there's so much more on the site! BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A CREATOR OF NEWS.
And we have articles that capture funny moments during the entire election period
Poor reporter is tired from covering the news, mind you this is at like 1,2am in the morning?
Nonetheless, one of the epic moments from the elections.
Forget about elections.
Talk about common things. And see how different are they being reported in mainstream media and citizen journalism sites.
For instance, the closure of the last HMV store in Singapore.
Forget about elections.
Talk about common things. And see how different are they being reported in mainstream media and citizen journalism sites.
For instance, the closure of the last HMV store in Singapore.
HMV to close last remaining Singapore outlet in Marina Square; plans future new storeVersus this:
Source: The Straits Times
Goodbye HMV, it was nice knowing you.
Source: Mothership.sg
I think you probably know which one will you read first if you had a choice (and you definitely do in this new age)
So is citizen journalism really a good thing?
I mean like, even mainstream media are incorporating citizen journalism into their news, just check out their letters in the forum section will you? But at this point in time, I would like to alert you to one super ridiculous letter published on The Straits Times website on the 19th of November.
In the letter, the concerned citizen wrote about how dangerous it was for a woman to be sewing on a MRT train. And the fact that The Straits Times actually published it (though not on print but only on web) it speaks a lot about the level of professionalism they are allowing on their side. Once again, the comments are evoking laughter with their imitation of this article with their own spins.
For instance:
The eight news values are: Impact, Timeliness, Unusual, Proximity, Conflict, Prominence, Currency, Necessity.
Don't say citizen journalism sites only bring out the worst of people not covered in mainstream media, for they are not the mouthpiece of the national body. Sometimes, the best of the opposing voices are clearly shown here.
Remember last week I ended off with a video with M.Ravi making a blunder, he made up for it here:
So is citizen journalism really a good thing?
I mean like, even mainstream media are incorporating citizen journalism into their news, just check out their letters in the forum section will you? But at this point in time, I would like to alert you to one super ridiculous letter published on The Straits Times website on the 19th of November.
In the letter, the concerned citizen wrote about how dangerous it was for a woman to be sewing on a MRT train. And the fact that The Straits Times actually published it (though not on print but only on web) it speaks a lot about the level of professionalism they are allowing on their side. Once again, the comments are evoking laughter with their imitation of this article with their own spins.
For instance:
Recently, i came across a schoolgirl laughing with an open mouth in the train. And i thought this was very dangerous. The train lurch sometimes and if she is laughing at a commuter in the direction of the lurch, she could be propelled towards the commuter and sink her teeth into his neck, this may cause extreme bleeding and waste all that blood, which unless if she is from twilight, that would be fine, but nevertheless that might cause bloody mess and inconvenience to the other commuters.I guess it's up to you to decide what you should be reading, and what you should be WRITING as well. Never write for the sake of a slownewsday or nonewsday. Verify your facts, make sure it has some news value before even attempting to create your story.
By the way, is there a button where i can eject people out the train if it is always too full?- Rei Poh
The eight news values are: Impact, Timeliness, Unusual, Proximity, Conflict, Prominence, Currency, Necessity.
Don't say citizen journalism sites only bring out the worst of people not covered in mainstream media, for they are not the mouthpiece of the national body. Sometimes, the best of the opposing voices are clearly shown here.
Remember last week I ended off with a video with M.Ravi making a blunder, he made up for it here:
"7 moments of GE2015 that made us go HAHAHAHA, what the?"- Mothership.sg
No comments:
Post a Comment