Smartphones now outpower traditional news cameras. A new breed of reporters has emerged: citizen journalists. Citizen journalists use smartphones every day to report real-time news. They capture raw, unfiltered events, often faster than traditional news outlets. Citizen journalism lets marginalized communities share their stories. citizen journalism perspectives helps them correct false narratives.
Movements like #MeToo and #EndSARS gain attention through grassroots reporting. Participatory journalists don’t always follow the same rules as professional reporters, leading to fewer accuracy checks and the risk of misinformation. Despite these challenges, OPEN journalism fills gaps left by mainstream media, highlighting local issues that might be ignored. Professional news organizations now work with participatory reporters, using their content while adding fact-checks and context. However, citizen journalists often lack strict ethics and may not fact-check, leading to biased reporting. Without oversight, false reports can go viral, confusing the public and damaging trust. A major issue is the lack of accountability. Anyone can post content without being responsible for errors because it is people powered news. The future of news is likely to be a mix of professional and public journalism. The two approaches complement each other. Open journalists provide quick, firsthand perspectives. Professional journalists add depth, analysis, and verification unlike citizen journalism. Together, they create a dynamic, diverse, and responsive collaborative news environment. Citizen journalism perspectives are changing our understanding of the world, making reporting more inclusive and immediate.
