The Rise & Rise of UGC

1. What is meant by the term ‘citizen journalist’?

A citizen journalist is an ‘ordinary person’ that generates the news, they can also be known as ‘grassroots journalists’ or even ‘accidental journalists’.

2. What was one of the first examples of news being generated by ‘ordinary people’?

One of the first examples of news being generated by ‘ordinary people’ would be George Holiday recording the beating of Rodney King by four Los Angeles police officers from his apartment window. Having caught Rodney King, an African-American, after a high speed chase, the officers surrounded him, tasered him and beat him with clubs. The four officers were charged with assault and use of excessive force however, in 1992 they were found not guilty. This sparked huge civil unrest in which there was 6 days of riots, 53 people died, and around 4000 people were injured.

3. List some of the formats for participation that are now offered by news organisations. 

Most news organisations include formats for participation: message boards, chat rooms, Q&A, polls, have your says, and blogs with comments enabled.

4. What is one of the main differences between professionally shot footage and that taken first-hand (UGC)?

The footage they provid is raw and uncompromising. This first-hand view, rather than professionally shot footage from behind police lines, is often more hard-hitting and emotive.

5. What is a gatekeeper?

Gatekeepers are who decide what is new and what is not, and what will and what won’t be broadcast.

6. How has the role of a gatekeeper changed?
7. What is one of the primary concerns held by journalists over the rise of UGC?

Journalists fear that in the future there will be fewer and fewer permanent trained staff at news organisations. Some believe that the mediators and moderators might eventually disappear too. This can lead to the world being unmediated hence, sites could be overrun by bigots or fools.