Storify: Changing the conversation about mental health

The topic of my Storify article progresses with the topic of the rest of the assignments we have had for this class. I chose various media platforms and articles to exhibit the need to increase awareness of mental health issues among  youth and adolescents, in order to increase knowledge, education and comfort when speaking about such issues.

The link in my previous blog post did not work, so here is a proper functioning link:

Changing the conversation about mental health

Thanks for being patient and hope you enjoy!

Rebecca

Citizen journalism through Storify

The topic of my Storify article progresses with the topic of the rest of the assignments we have had for this class. I chose various media platforms and articles to exhibit the need to increase awareness of mental health issues among  youth and adolescents, in order to increase knowledge, education and comfort when speaking about such issues.

Changing the conversation about mental health

I hope you enjoy my story and have enjoyed viewing my blog posts and assignments!

Rebecca

The encouragement of citizen journalism: Summary of module 6

             The comments I received on this week's blogpost were in response to the question of what is citizen journalism and how does it differ from professional journalism. Before we can address the question of whether or not new digital and social media encourage participation in citizen journalism, we must determine what is encompassed under this type of journalism. As Dahlgren (2012) notes, civic journalism includes civic engagement and democratic renewal through new digital and social media. Although this does include social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, it is important to remember that just because an individual posts a Tweet or posting on Facebook regarding news or world events does not make this individual a "journalist".
              As Lindsay notes, just because an individual simply has a blog dedicated to a specific topic, does not mean they are a journalist. As Kamalpreet recognizes, although social media outlets allow and encourage participation in regards to democratically sharing information and news events, thus encouraging citizen journalism, it is important to determine a solid difference between citizen journalism and professional journalism. Individuals who participate in the world of professional journalism should not go unrecognized for the verified and resourced work that they complete. This also highlights Bruns and Highfield's (2012) concept that citizen journalism is actually replacing proper journalism. I think it is good that new social media platforms are encouraging participation in citizen and democratic journalism. However, with Bruns and Highfield's (2012) regard of replacement of proper journalism with citizen journalism, I think it is also important that users properly verify and resource information as is done with proper journalism.
            Finally, I agree with Nella's comment that social media platforms exceed the passive nature to just consume information, but encourage users to produce and share information as well. As Nella regards with her comment, this is when it is especially important for individuals to be mindful of what they do consume and take to be true when accessing the Internet as not every individual properly verifies and resources the information they post and share, even if they claim that it is. The democratic nature that citizen journalism holds, as suggested by Dahlgren (2012), allows for anyone to post and share information.
            In conclusion, although social and new digital media encourage participation of citizen journalism in Online communities, it is important to be more conscientious when consuming information through citizen journalism with varying verification and sources.
            

Citizen journalism: What is it and how is it encouraged?

When addressing the question of whether or not the new social media and Online opportunities encourage more direct participation in citizen journalism, I believe it is most important to determine what exactly is meant by ‘citizen journalism’. As Hermida (2012) recognizes, the ease of access and immediacy of social media endorse the expansion of journalism to encompass individuals who report on events but are not actual journalists. As much as individuals may be encouraged to participate within social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, to produce news information, this does not necessarily grant this individual the title of ‘journalist’.
            Dahlgren (2012) indicates that citizen journalism is not simply about citizens writing journalism for the sake of it, but about civic engagement and democratic renewal. I believe it is easy for anyone to jump onto the Internet, log into a platform such as Twitter, and begin producing what they believe to be ‘journalism’. I think in order for individuals to properly exercise their journalist abilities through new media and social media platforms, one must be properly educated as to what is actually considered to be citizen journalism and how to produce information in a journalistic manner.
             Simulataneously, and in contrast, Bruns and Highfield (2012) regard the replacement of proper journalism with that of citizen journalism. With the large advancement in new media and digital technology, users are granted access to an increase in available channels for information and knowledge-production, both from a consumer and producer standpoint. Technology has allowed for the undermining of the existing business model of conventional newspaper publishing through specialist Websites and general search engines that provide more effective and easy search platforms for various purposes.  
            Overall, I believe that new social media and Online opportunities do, in fact, encourage more direct participation in citizen journalism. The Internet allows individuals to democratically participate and contribute information in a manner that is not possible to occur in the convention business model of news production. The Internet allows for individuals to contribute and search what they deem to be important, allowing a plethora of information to be accessed and available. After reviewing the assigned readings for this module, I believe a citizen journalist is an individual who democratically contributes appropriate and resourced knowledge and information. When this definition is followed, it is easy to see that the Internet absolutely encourages this type of participation and knowledge-production.

References

Bruns, A. & T. Highfield. (2012). Blogs, Twitter, and breaking news: The produsage of citizen journalism. pre-publication draft on personal site [Snurb.info]. Published in: Lind, R. A. ed. (2012). Produsing Theory in a Digital World: The Intersection of Audiences and Production. New York: Peter Lang. p15-32.

Dahlgren, P. (2012). Reinventing participation: civic agency and the web environment. Geopolitics, History, and International Relations. 4.2, p27.

Hermida, A. (2012). TWEETS AND TRUTH: Journalism as a discipline of collaborative verification. Journalism Practice. 6:5-6, p659-668.