Citizen Journalism: Can't be Responsible at all?

"The attacks in India served as another case study in how technology is transforming people into potential reporters, adding a new dimension to the news media. " (Brian Stelter dan Noam Cohen, "New York Times", 29/11)*

What is Citizen Journalism?

Are the citizens ready to be a journalist?

How about the printed-media, like newspapers and magazines? Would they be ready to face up citizen journalism?

Last Tuesday(December, 2nd), I attended a talkshow which discussed "Jurnalisme Warga (Citizen Journalism) : Antara Kredibilitas dan Tanggung Jawab". The speaker was Aries Margono, who works for TV One. The talkshow was held by Wretta Aksa in the University of Nasional.

Citizen Journalism existed since we have been in the era of media's convergence. The era of media's convergence means people (read: citizen) can use technologies, such as online-media, blog, and many things like that. People can create and publish news about everything by using all those things. Yup, the technologies are growing faster than before.

Nowadays, there are a lot of popular online-media, for example: Detikcom, and Okezone (you can see HERE). Online-media is becoming more popular than printed-media. Because, the online-media has higher mobilization than printed-media, so that citizens can quickly get information. The circulation of printed-media is much less now, so they (read: printed media) tried to make and develop online-media. They try to provide and share news online. Some of the printed-media on the internet are Kompas Cyber Media, Media Indonesia, Republika, Suara Pembaruan, and so many (you can see HERE). The citizens can give some information or knowledge to online media about what happens around them.


Or maybe, they can write and publish the news in a blog. Yeay, blog is not something new. Some people (read: citizens) make and use a blog to write everything they know. Of course, i'm one of the citizens who uses blog. If you can't write, you can use a video to inform and share the news, like Youtube. Indonesia, as a developing-country, has so many people who uses a blog in their daily life. It allows Indonesian people to be are so modern and creative.

But, India is also one of the countries in Asia, which has more advanced journalism. This fact is proved from one of the citizen in India, Arun Shanbhag, who reports terorism in Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, on November 26 (as quoted by Brian Stelter dan Noam Cohen, "New York Times", 29/11), you can CLICK HERE.

Back to the discussion about "Jurnalisme Warga (Citizen Journalism) : Antara Kredibilitas dan Tanggung Jawab"..

Well, Aries Margono explained that J. D. Lasica classified the media of citizen journalism into some categories..

1. Public's participation, such as comments in the online-media, blog, news video, etc.
2. Some information and news on the independent web.
3. News website with full participation, like OhmyNews. Even, OhmyNews has a motto, like: "Every citizen is a reporter" (you can see HERE)
4. The collaboration of media web, for example: slashdot (you can click HERE).
5. Or kind of thin media, like mailing-list and newsletter.

Unfortunately, citizen journalism is becoming controvercial, there are pros and cons to that. Many professional journalist are certain that only they can be real journalist. The result and credibility of citizen journalism can't be responsible at all. Not like professional journalist.


*adopted from "Mumbai, Jurnalisme, dan Masa Depan Internet" by Ninok Leksono (Kompas, December, 3rd 2008)