In today’s world, where smartphones can outperform the equipment once used in newsrooms, journalism is no longer restricted to individuals with official press licences or professional credentials.
Today, a protest shown live on Instagram, or a post on X can quickly become big news around the world. This is the power that citizen journalism has. Regular people sharing real stories as they happen.
One big impact of citizen journalism is to share different points of views and questions about what we usually hear in the news. Traditional news channels are often blamed for being biased and not covering enough stories, sometimes missing important ones. Citizen journalists can address topics that mainstream media often leave out.
Can citizen journalism lead to misinformation? In today’s world, there is a fine line between citizen journalism and the risks of exploitation where views and clicks matter most, some media outlets take advantage of the fast and emotional nature of citizen journalism. This often pushes citizen journalists to focus more on dramatic content rather than truth and fairness. At the same time, because anyone can share news now, it is easier for false information and propaganda to spread.
This new era of decentralized reporting does come with significant challenges. In many cases, the desire for viral content outweighs the importance of accuracy. As a result, certain individuals and even some media outlets may exploit this trend to gain attention, increase online traffic, or push specific agendas. In such instances, sensationalism can take priority over truth and journalistic integrity.
A clear example of this occurred during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a wave of unverified videos and conspiracy theories circulated rapidly across platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok. These misleading messages caused widespread confusion and fear in various communities. False claims about cures, government plots, and infection hotspots often went unchallenged, highlighting how misinformation even when shared with good intentions can have serious and harmful consequences.
Citizen journalists should follow some simple but important practices to report news in a fair and safe way. Firstly, always check if the information is true before sharing it. Try to tell all sides of a story and keep your reporting balanced. When using photos or videos, do not change them to make them more dramatic, and never take them out of context. Protect people’s privacy, especially in sensitive cases, by getting permission or hiding faces if needed. Keep yourself and others safe, do not take risks just to get a story. Also, give credit if you use someone else’s content and learn about your country’s media laws. If you make a mistake, admit it and correct it. Most importantly, think about how your story could affect real people and try to use your platform to share the truth and bring positive change.
