citizen journalist
Nonprofessional news gatherer
A citizen journalist is an ordinary person who reports news or documents events, typically through social media or blogs, without formal journalism training or affiliation with established media.
The term emerged with smartphones and internet platforms that let anyone publish eyewitness accounts: Citizen journalists captured the protest on video.
The practice raises questions about accuracy and ethics that traditional journalism addresses through institutional standards.
Journalist covering distant events
- stringerFreelance reporter or beam
- freelancerSelf-employed service provider
- newshoundZealous gatherer of stories
- scoopFirst-reported story
byline · lede · beat · dateline · source · exclusive · interview · feature
Public cause supporter
- campaignerOne who advocates publicly
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
expose · accountability · transparency · social justice · human rights · grassroots · solidarity · awareness
Web journal author
- vloggerSomeone posting video journals
- podcasterEpisodic audio show host
- YouTuberPerson posting videos online
- content creatorMakes digital media professionally
microblogging · live-tweet · hashtag · viral · multimedia · digital storytelling · social media · platforms
One lacking formal credentials
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- independentFree from external control
- unofficialNot formally recognized
unaffiliated · community · local · neighborhood · participatory · crowdsourced · democratized · accessible
correspondent
Journalist covering distant events
- stringerFreelance reporter or beam
- freelancerSelf-employed service provider
- newshoundZealous gatherer of stories
scoop · byline · lede · beat · dateline · source · exclusive · interview · feature · inquiry
advocate
Public cause supporter
- campaignerOne who advocates publicly
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
whistleblower · expose · accountability · transparency · social justice · human rights · grassroots · solidarity · awareness · civil disobedience
blogger
Web journal author
- vloggerSomeone posting video journals
- podcasterEpisodic audio show host
- YouTuberPerson posting videos online
content creator · microblogging · live-tweet · hashtag · viral · multimedia · digital storytelling · social media · platforms · engagement
nonprofessional
One lacking formal credentials
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- independentFree from external control
unofficial · unaffiliated · community · local · neighborhood · participatory · crowdsourced · democratized · accessible · DIY
firsthand
Without intermediary
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
- unfilteredNot passed through screen
- raw footageUnprocessed recorded material
testimony · account · document · capture · record · snapshot · bystander · observer · witness · authentic
- pressnewspaper, press laws, free press, newsroom, press cards
- journalistsreporter, correspondent, anchorwoman, news correspondent, contributor
- online contributorscontributor, editor, moderator, uploader, submitter
- online journalistsdigital editor, blogger, content creator, investigative reporter, breaking news reporter
- civic rolesvoter, taxpayer, constituent, candidate, elected official
- photojournalistsphotojournalist, press photographer, sports photographer, photo editor
citizen journalistbeat reporter
Journalist covering specific field
foreign correspondent · news anchor · broadcast journalist · investigative reporter · syndicated columnist
citizen, journalist, citizens, citizenship, journalism, journal, journals, journalistic, journaling