Understanding Citizen Journalism as Civic Participation

Seungahn Nah, Deborah S. Chung

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9781351984607
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Communication Studies
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Understanding Citizen Journalism as Civic Participation re-conceptualizes citizen journalism in the context of Habermas's theory of the public sphere and communicative action, to examine how citizen journalism practice as civic participation may contribute to a heathier community and democracy in the civil society context.

Citizen journalism has garnered growing attention owing to the participation of ordinary citizens in the performance of news production. Drawing on the authors' decade-long collaboration on citizen journalism scholarship, this book posits a theoretical framework that relies on diverse communication perspectives to understand citizen journalism practice and its democratic consequences.

This book will be of great relevance to scholars, researchers, professionals and policy makers working in the field of journalism and media studies, culture studies, and communication studies.

Section III

Citizen Journalism Practice

Causes and Consequences

6 Factors Driving Citizen Journalism Practice

In this chapter, we examine factors that impact citizen journalism practice. In particular, we are interested in exploring the relationships between citizen journalism practice and demographic features, communication processes, and social capital variables. Thus, in order to accomplish this goal, it is necessary to more explicitly define the concept of citizen journalism and what we mean by citizen journalism practice. In this book, citizen journalism practice refers to a particular kind of civic participation that contributes to the conversation of democracy, thus leading to the public sphere (Friedland & Kim, 2009; Habermas, 1962/1989).

It is first important to define what we mean by citizen journalism and citizen journalism practice specifically as it relates to civic participation. In this book, we conceptualize citizen journalism from the perspective of Habermas’s public sphere (1962/1989) where it refers to a realm mediated between civil society and the state in which citizens, through public discussions, collectively strive to accomplish common goals. Based on this model, in order for the public to participate in meaningful civic communication, it necessitates “specific [technological] means for transmitting information and influencing those who receive it. Today, newspapers, magazine, radio, and television are the media of the public sphere” (Habermas, 1974, p. 49).

Over many decades, this notion of the public sphere has been expanded to reflect changing social, political, cultural, and also technological transformations (Nah, 2010; Nah & Yamamoto, 2019). While modifying and expanding the original notion of Habermas’s public sphere, many scholars have also criticized it for being limited in perspective (e.g., Asen & Brower, 2001; Eley, 1992; Fraser, 1992; Garnham, 1992) and not being inclusive of alternative and also counter public spheres. In an effort to address the various social, political, and media climate, communication scholars have made efforts to expand the traditional understanding of the public sphere by embracing newly emerging digital public spaces/places and communication that occurs in those environments (Dahlgren, 2005; Friedland, Hove, & Rojas, 2006; Palczewski, 2001).

Expanding the notion of the public sphere in contemporary society may be inclusive of environments, such as the Internet, in comparable ways as in the physical world where citizens are able to also engage in reason-based discussions and deliberate on issues of import from their relative communities. Online networks provide opportunities for citizens to stay abreast of unique news and information and also exchange ideas through such information channels (Dahlgren, 2005; Friedland et al., 2006). The Internet, in particular, is conducive to offering a voice to marginalized individuals, such as women, alternative communities, and other underrepresented populations, who have been challenged in working through mainstream venues in expressing their views. Thus, the Internet and online venues offer spaces for citizens to participate in state-centered political activities representing not only the mainstream public spheres but also the oppositional and alternative public spheres (Palczewski, 2001).

The conceptual definition of citizen journalism, thus, is more expansive than Habermas had originally envisioned (Habermas, 1974, 1962/1989). It is notable that Dahlgren (2005) states “multisector online public spheres” (p. 153) in cyberspace now encompass a wide range of activities, including the governmental sector and that of the civil society (e.g., activist groups). In other words, both mainstream and alternative news sites play a central journalistic role functioning as online public spheres. Through these online spaces and places, individuals engage in various acts of journalism, including community, alternative, participatory, and citizen journalism (e.g., Allan, 2006; Atton, 2003; Downing, 2003; Farinosi & Treré, 2014; Lim, 2012; Rodríguez, 2001; Roth & Valaskakis, 1989). Locally and globally, citizens contribute to the mainstream public spheres through professional news sites as well as alternative public spheres through citizen news sites, representing marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented voices. Through such coexistence of different public spheres, a more diverse and democratic journalism is envisioned, which may, in turn, lead to social change (Atton, 2003; Downing, 2003; Rodríguez, 2001; Roth & Valaskakis, 1989).

Thus, when defined in such a way, citizen journalism can be considered a critical component of civic participation with citizens’ efforts in resolving issues both individually and collectively functioning as a central focus (Kim & Ball-Rokeach, 2006a, 2006b; McLeod et al., 1996; Putnam, 2000). This definition is inclusive of various civic activities (e.g., attending protests, working on behalf of local groups or causes) that go beyond political participatory acts (e.g., voting or signing petitions for candidates). Specifically, citizen journalism when defined as c...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Preface: Why Citizen Journalism as Civic Participation?
• Section I Modeling Citizen Journalism as Civic Participation
• Section II Citizen Journalism Credibility
• Section III Citizen Journalism Practice
• Section IV Conclusion
• Index