Citizen journalism is news and information dissemination done by individuals not trained as journalists. In other words, ordinary citizens capture and write news content and information and disseminate it to the public. Equipped with their personal phones, cameras, and laptops, citizen journalists capture news that takes place in their communities and convey it to the general public to help them keep abreast of what transpires in their surroundings.
Unlike conventional print and broadcast media outlets governed by rules and regulations, citizen journalism is undertaken by concerned individuals endowed with a passion for passing current trends to their fellow citizens. Citizen journalists may have a knack for writing or filming and photographing skills. Drawing on such skills, they roll up their sleeves and voluntarily undertake journalism responsibilities that enlighten their communities in one way or another.
Encouraged and enticed by different causes, citizen journalists write news stories, blog posts, and feature articles and publish them on platforms available to them. Like professional journalists, though, citizen journalists can work in varied beats, meaning some may focus on education, some may focus on health issues, while others may take safety and security issues in their neighborhoods or communities. For instance, citizen journalists who pay special attention to education report on schools, their clientele, and educational policies.
To have a one-stop shopping, some citizen journalists have blogs or websites where they upload and post news and information. They individually undertake everything ranging from taking pictures to writing content to editing and uploading or posting news content.
Citizen journalism has become a prevalent phenomenon in this information age we live in. The advent of the internet and the various forms of available social media platforms have contributed to the efficacy of citizen journalism and enabled its practitioners to disseminate news and information round the clock.