Essay brief1 rise of the citizen

‘The rise of the citizen’ - Analyse why journalism is changing in the 21st century and what impact this could have on the traditional role of journalists.
News has been in existence for centuries; however the way which news is broadcasted and distributed in recent times has evolved due to technological advances. Modern technology such as mobile phones and advances in global communications, have enabled ordinary citizens to capture extraordinary events in the form of pictures and videos which can then be distributed via the Internet to create and lead the news on that event. For example when the Asian Tsunami hit in 2004, many of the images and videos broadcasted on major news networks were in fact captured by people who happened to have a camera as the events unfolded. This told the story to the audience from a ‘first person’ view compared to traditional methods where the story would have been told once the event was over, reporting and showing the destruction of the aftermath.
In this essay it will highlight how journalism is changing by ordinary people now being able to create, edit and publish there own news and how this impacts on the traditional role of journalists. First let’s look at describe citizen and traditional journalism, so that we have a better understanding of this topic.
The basic phenomenon of "citizen journalism" comes simply from the fact that the internet and consumer technologies lower the barriers in recording and reporting the news, allowing a wider variety of people to play a part than the traditional industry of professional journalists (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5097432.stm).
Because of the wide dispersion of so many excellent tools for capturing live events, from tiny digital cameras to videophones, the average citizen can now make news and distribute it globally, an act that was once the province of established journalists and media companies (source: www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/09/your-guide-to-citizen-journalism270.html). News and issues can now be published on to the Internet in forms of ‘tweets’ and opinions and journals can be posted in the form of ‘blogs’ making news more on the internet and everyday citizens being able to publish blogs and twitter adding more interactive between the citizen journalist and the audience. Compared to traditional journalism, media reporters and producers are no longer the exclusive center of knowledge on a subject, the audience knows more collectively than the reporter alone (source: www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/09/your-guide-to-citizen-journalism270.html).

Citezen journalism has also challenged some of the traditonal methods used by proffessional journalists. Some events have even come to rely upon this "user generated content", where professional journalists and cameramen haven't been able to get to the scene fast enough. For example The Thames whale sighting, the Buncefield oil explosion, and the 2004 London bombings all had photos from passers-by being published online and in press. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5097432.stm). This creates a growing concern which professional photographers loose out as news organisations will use free mobile phone coverage instead to reduce costs (source: www.journalism.co.uk/news/citizen-journalism-dealing-with-dinosaurs/s2/a51458/).
Other concerns are ethical problems faced by photojournalism in general. For example, the digital manipulation of images, privacy concerns and the use of graphic images. As photos are published on the web from all over the world, it is also difficult to check their authenticity (source: www.journalismethics.ca/citizen_journalism/cell_journalism.htm).
By granting access to anyone to cover the news, citizen journalsim presents a more personal, nuanced view of events and has the potential to cultivate communities of people with a common interest (source: www.educause.edu/eli). However the qulaity of any citizen journalism project reflects the contributuions of those who choose to participate, and such projects can be havens for triviality or unreliable content (source: www.educause.edu/eli). Also citizen journalisim have the potential to contain content that might be inaccuarate, offensive or otherwise lack credibility. Whilst conscientious professional journalists are careful to separate supportable evidence from opinion or speculation, many citizen journalists have a weaker sense of what constitutes a reliable story. Therefore it can be argued that reporting through citizen journalsim can sometimes result in a loss of confidence in the news (source: www.educause.edu/eli).
Also many professional journalists believe that only a trained journalist can understand the rigors and ethics involved in reporting the news. The role of the traditional journalist is to create and report genuine news based on facts, truth and accuracy. Most of the main news we read and watch today still comes from the traditional sources. However citizen journalism gives the option of ‘more power to the people’ and can also offer more transparency in stories. For example Pedro Meyer, a Photographer from Mexico City, is a strong advocate for democratising the press and allowing people in third world economies to have a voice in the world.
In my opinion big news organizations like the BBC have a reputation built up over years. For citizen journalists and bloggers, trust is gained by building a relationship with the reader by being open and transparent about the sources being used. Citizen journalism can provide another perspective in the world of journalism however I do believe that traditional journalism will be at the forefront of providing news to the public.

Brief 4 Snow affecting only England but sports goes on!!

This saturday early hours of the morning england was hit in sevaral places with alot of snow? Why does England always make a big deal out of a little snow and everything seems to come to a hault schools shut people can't make it too work and public transport is stopped or delayed.

We knew the snow would fall this week soo why aren't paths and roads gritted before hand england seems to be unorganised compared to other countries we seemed to now be seeing snow every year and the same thing happens everything comes to a hault so why then are sports carring on surely if sports players are running round on black ice so why aren't children going too school, when other countries manage to carry on as normal.

Running round a cold field at half six james still manages to give a good game of rugby even in the icey weather. James has been playing rugby in his current team for the past five years 'i played rugby when i can and that means when it snows' he says.

Last year (2009) Manhatten saw 10inches of snow and had too digg there cars out but it seemed hours later the roads were clear and the city wouldn't of even know the snow had hit so hard, but earlier this week the conditions in bratian were harsh and was hard for people to walk down the pavement without slipping or having to be so carful so why isn't britain prepared

James 23 (24 next month) plays rugby for wath upon dearne rugby club 'yorkshire3 division.''i have a bad knee and find it even harder in cold conditions but i carry on running in a slipery field when its snowed and our team is alway prepared when the snow falls, this week we will be having a friendly game in the snow, we will all be there on time and manage to play in these conditions.

so why britian can we not continue in the snow?

brief 3 bullied girl fights back

Walking down to the school gates was terrifying for Stephanie Lester at just 13years old she knew what was waiting around the corner the vicious five girls that have been bullying and tormenting this young girl. 'It started because I had a cool new bag and the girls were obviously jealous I remember them ripping my bag to pieces I had to tell my mum I lost it as I was so scared to tell her the truth.' says now 22year old Stephanie.

Millions of school children are bullied every year and the problem seems to be going on for years but things seem too get worse with now an increase in suicide. Now with children having excess to the internet there easier ways of bullying such as cyber bullying.

Stephanie Says the violence first started when she was walking down the stairs and one of the bullies pushed her down the stairs and pulled her skirt over her head the girls thought it was funny. 'They said if I told anyone they wouldn't believe me and they knew where I lived' she went on to say how the violence got worse 'they'd physical hit me and make bruises I had to hide from my parents. I couldn't understand why I was a target to them. They once locked me in a locker for a whole lesson; they'd throw stones at me when I walked home, rip my hair out and pinch me when the teachers weren't looking. '

Stephanie even tried to ask her mum too move schools 'I’d try making excuses that other schools were better and my teachers weren't teaching me probably. I never tried skipping school as I knew I wanted to do something with my life'

Now model Stephanie feels like she has achieved something with her life.

Last December modelled on a London catwalk for Marc Jacobs fashion range. 'i felt so proud up there I knew I’ beaten the bullies after that.

Stephanie still see some of the girls ' they never tried at school they just all work in supermarkets or on job seekers so I see them and I’m proud I carried on at school it was hard but now I’m better off in life than them.

it seems she now has her life in order and is a better person than these bullies ever will be this was a very emotional time but bullying will only continue.

Local building site waking up lazy students! -Brief2

Today at 7.33 an aggressive verbal attack broke out on onlooking building site workers as loud mouth students were woken .
An ongoing project for new student accommodation is taking place on Caledonia road right outside the current Caledonia Court.

It seem this morning after a heavy student night out in Hanley the students of Caledonia were not taking any more of the loud machinery and went over to take action on these hard working builders with alcohol and tiredness still in these lazy students system the young youths were aggressive and rude toward these hard working men shouting that they dont want them here and to f**k off .

Caledonia Court is situated on Caledonia road and currntly has around 82 students living in this acommodation its leased from foxhult until September 2015. Caledonia has kitchens and shower facilties are shared by up to 12students. It is the currently cheapest accommodation from Staffordshire university students and is named 'the ghetto' by other local students.

After speaking to the builders at 10.30am this morning they seemed friendly, kind and even managed too still have smiles on their faces.

One builder Joel has said for the past week he's had varies things thrown at him from second floor students from their windows.
He said he was walking past when he heard one student who does not want to be identifed shouting 'oi' and using verbal language toward him. Joel ignored the student and continued too walk but as he did the student start to urinate out of the window onto Joel .

Other students from Caledonia have a apologised on behalf of their fellow students and have try to reason with the builders they understand that the builders are only doing their job and don't agree of the way the other students are treating the builders one student Melissa says 'i'm not a part of this behaviour and do not agree with it i have told my friends not to act this way but i can't stop them they seem to be go over there every mornin now.'
She sounded honested and even said she likes the builders and has become close friend too one Elliot. After speaking to Melissa she agreed to let me into her room so i could take photos of the building site from her window.

These targeted builders will be working there for at least another few months lets hope this feud can come to an end and they can just get on with there jobs.