citizen journalism

Grassroots news gathering

Citizen journalism is news reporting done by ordinary people rather than professional journalists, typically distributed through blogs, social media, or other online platforms.

The term emerged as smartphones and internet access enabled anyone to document and share newsworthy events: Citizen journalism captured the protests when mainstream media couldn't get access.

It encompasses everything from eyewitness videos to independent investigation, valued for reaching underreported stories but questioned for lacking editorial standards.

Opposites
professionalization

citizen journalismbeat reporters

Journalists assigned regular coverage areas

institutional structure

citizen journalismmainstream media

Dominant news establishment

legacy media · network news · broadcast journalism · media conglomerates · wire services

information control

citizen journalismstate media

Government-run news organizations

government propaganda · press releases · official narratives · curated news

Family

citizen, citizens, journalism, citizenship, citizenry, noncitizen

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G