Assessment Three: Annotated Bibliography

The credibility of citizen journalism - new media vs. old media

“Journalism is the gathering and disseminating of new information to a wide audience about current events, trends, issues and people,” (Bainbridge, Goc, Tynan. Pg. 17). It is a form of communication that is professionally used to quote, document and present current happenings. This Annotated Bibliography will focus of the death of Michael Jackson and how citizen journalism was used in conjunction with professional journalism. It will critically engage with a range of texts from the fields of Journalism and Communication to discuss the reliability of this changing form of media. The mediums which these texts are coming from will be; television news report, online article and blog which highlight the 2009 event. The analysis taken will convey both the similar and contrasting opinions between each medium in order to account for their credibility.

Harrison, J. 2009. From the Biggest Job in the World To the Best Job in the World: Case Studies of Communication Campaigns Using Web 2.0. Section 1. When Grandpa gets to Google: Web 2.0, communication campaigns and case studies. Retrieved: 23/10/11

The birth and expansion of citizen journalism is a direct result of the advancement of technology, namely the Internet, throughout the past two decades. The Internet allows us to write and publish our own stories, views and opinions, and share them publically. In the Case Studies of Communication Campaigns Using Web 2.0, Harrison begins his discussion of today’s use of the web with the quote by McLuhan (1957). “Today we are beginning to notice that the new media are not just mechanical gimmicks for creating worlds of illusion, but new languages with new and unique powers of expression,” (Harrison, 2009. Pg. 1). By opening his discussion about web usage with this quote, Harrison is writing in favour of citizen journalism and other forms of ‘new media’ which have evolved in recent times. He says that “The balance has swung away from professional content producers to consumers’ who are also producers,” (Harrison, 2009. Pg. 2). This demonstrates that information on the web is increasingly being produced by the general public and less by professionally approved means of publication. However, his opening quote suggest that this has not proved to be a downfall but instead allowed us to evolve into new and more ‘powerful’ things.

ACESHOWBIZ, 2007. Lisa Marie Presley Blogs About Michael Jackson’s Death and How it Affects Her. http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00025327.html. Retrieved: 23/10/11

The blog by ACESHOWBIZ, published in 2007 gives us an insight into the citizen journalism which reporting on something as publically unsettling as the death of Michael Jackson. The death of singer, songwriter and performer, Michael Jackson was a 2009 event which shocked the world and caused public outcry. The public demanded immediate answers to the cause and actions which ultimately lead to the King of Pop’s death and the quickest way to spread this news what via the Internet. “Bloggers, who use the medium of the Internet, subscribe to the journalistic ideals of an obligation to the truth and the public’s right to information,” (Bainbridge, Goc, Tynan. Pg. 21). This suggests that all information on the Internet, by standards of ethics, should be true. However, the increase in new media forums has a direct correlation with the decline in credibility of news sources. By analysing and using the example of ACESHOWBIZ’s, 2009, re-blogging of Lisa Marie Presley’s personal blog written just after Jackson’s death, we can draw on our own opinions about the credibility of citizen journalism. The blog directly quotes Presley throughout its text, but what make it seem credible is the connected hyperlinks which direct us immediately to the original blog. However, how are we as the public, to be sure that this is truthfully Presley’s blog and if it is, how are we to know if what she says is accurate? This however is an issue that is not only faced with new media forms such as blogs, but also stills a concern with old media. As responders we have to make our own informed decisions about which information to account as credible or dismiss as fiction.

SkyNews, 2009. Television News Report. Breaking News report on Michael Jackson’s death. Confirmation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niMLcLIdzJY Retrieved: 23/10/11

The live, breaking news, television report by SkyNews on the 26 June, 2009, is an example of a type of professional journalism. Television reporting, although not considered a ‘traditional media’ form, is becoming increasingly less popular as a medium of consuming news. Professional journalism is being taken over by citizen journalism through mediums such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook, which have taken the world by storm over the past two decades. However, its content is more regulated by professional publishers, and news is presented by academically acclaimed journalists. This automatically makes for a more credible source than a media blog or social networking site. In the events of Jackson’s death, the breaking news coverage by SkyNews allowed views to see live footage of the scene at the hospital and held interviews with people present at the scene. The report claimed to have had the death of Jackson confirmed by family members which made the tragedy a reality. SkyNews, in conjunction with other professional news teams (in this case, Los Angeles Times) worked collectively to present a cohesive news report. This rebounding information from other alike mediums is something which is similarly used by citizen journalists, and is the soul essence of ‘re-tweeting’ or ‘re-blogging’. Similarly to the way SkyNews made reference to the Los Angeles Times, ACESHOWBIZ made reference to Presley’s blog. Therefore, if we still deem second-hand information from one professional news source to another as reliable, then there is less to doubt about the credibility of citizen journalists re-posting.

BBC News, 26 June, 2009. Written News Article. Singers Michael Jackson Dies at 50. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8119993.stm Retrieved: 23/10/11.

Conforming to more traditional forms of media, written news articles don’t differ greatly from today’s use of blogs. The shift in the past two decades, from printed media to online media has meant a slight change in its style, however, it’s use of now combining different mediums such as video, pictures, text and hyperlinks, into one article has a allowed for consumers to have greater access to supporting information. In the article by BBC News, on the 26^th June, 2009, the publishers clearly support their information with backed up sources such as live news reports and links to other reports. This immediately increases their credibility. Live coverage is an advantage that news sites have over citizen journalists as they are fed the information first had and have the equipment available to stream such footage. 

Lecture Four: Ekka Holiday

This lecture was done on the week of Ekka, as a result, it was done as a recording and posted online. I'll admit that I forgot about it being cancelled and showed up to the lecture hall to find an empty room. But I saw others come in after and back away slowly as they came to the same realisation, so I can take comfort in the fact I wasn't alone.

To be perfectly honest, I found it hard to listen to a recording online rather than showing up to a lecture. It's harder to engage with the content when there isn't a person physically in front of you. I tuned out a lot but by the end of it, it was far to long to sit though again. I'd say that's why some people still show up to lectures these days, even though everything can be done online. I'd never hear anything if I was to sit at home and just listen to recordings.

So I guess I can say I picked up one of two tips for radio or television resenting/recording. The difference between them and the way you have to speak, but I probably didn't hear as much as I should have.

Unsuccessful.

Assessment Two: Telling Factual Stories

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people don't just happen. 

- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross 

We meet so many people in a lifetime, but very few make a big impression on our lives. Some may stay with us for a lifetime, and others only pass our lives by. When I met her, I knew this quote was true. She was one of the strongest people I knew, who had the most tremendous heart and a smile that was larger than life. To be in the presence of another human being is just so awesome. To be shocked and amazed by their sheer beauty is something special. It is to be arrested. But in a world so selfish and materialistic, we often miss the amazement. 

We met just shy of two months ago, on a late night shift. Both of us in training. Her confidence was overwhelming at first, and I felt uneasy being in the presence of her and the guy next to her. They seemed to get along far too well for two people who had just met. But I knew nothing of their past. It was one that was to be kept a dark secret.

It was a long eight hours that finished up at six in the morning. A shift as stressful as those, would lead even a non-smoker onto a smokers break. I swung the back door to the ally open and saw her silhouette sitting in solitude on the end of the stairs in the distance. Back curved over and hand cupped around her ear. I knelt down. Put my arm around her, "do you need anything?" I asked with grave concern. "My puffer please, I can't breathe!" Her voice was heavy and I could hear the struggle in her breaths. My stomach knotted as I search her Guess bag and realised that it wasn't there. "Are you sure you brought it with you, darling? It's not here..." "Yes!" she panicked. "I never leave home without it. Please, find it!" I looked again and then glanced up at her, not taking my eyes away from hers. "I think you need to put the phone down," I said suggestively as I gently reached up and removed it from her ear. I had no idea who she was, but I knew she needed me. I moved in closer and hugged her, "just breathe for me, love. Just concentrate on your breathing." 

She slept for an hour before waking to the sound of a delivery truck, backing up in front of us. She took a little while to register where she was, before she lifted her head and looked at me. Her smile was back, and the pain in her eyes was replaced with embarrassment. “I guess I should explain,” she chirped. “You don’t have to say anything, don’t worry.” “No, no, I want to tell you... I need to.” I sat and listened to what seemed like the script of a movie.  She began telling me about the man who was on the phone, and the recent loss in her life.

I learnt so much heartache in the hour that followed. The quote 'never judge a book by it's cover,' really rang true. Her best friend had died in a car accident the month before. It was a week before her birthday, and her friend had been waiting for her call. She decided it could wait and never rang, and that night her best friend died. Her car rolled four times before hitting a tree. “I have nightmares all the time she said. But every time it’s me driving the car. It should have been me that went that night, not her. I should have called her it would have changed the whole thing.”

I went numb. The whole hour, I could hardly say a word. What was there to say? What do you say when someone else’s life comes crashing down right beside you? There are no words, no language consoling enough to heal such wounds. I pulled her closer, and kept my arm around her shoulder. We sat in silence for a while. Not an awkward silence, but one that felt mending. Just to be in the company of another person was healing.

Finally I drew in a deep breath, “so when’s her eighteenth then?” I questioned about her best friend. “It’s on the second,” she replied, “why?” I got up and walked inside, returning ten minutes later. She looked puzzled as I pushed the door back open and sat on the edge of the step. “We’re not working on the second anymore. We have some celebrating to do.” 

 “I guess I should continue telling you about that call,” she murmured, the smile slowly fading, but never gone. Her phone rang again. It was him. He was a Muslim man, twenty-six years of age and ran his own business. A few businesses actually. His whole life revolved around family. He married for the soul reason of raising kids, but as he learnt that his wife was baron, he felt he had no obligation to her anymore and turned back to my friend. He wanted a divorce, but his parents told him, that he would be a disgrace to his family. If he left his wife, as a non-virgin, she would be worthless to any other Muslim man. She would never marry again. 

We became so close over the next month, to the point of inseparable. Things with her and that man became increasingly more complex. He wanted her to convert religion. He wanted her to move states. Threats followed. His wife began threatening to turn him into his family if he ever left her. She promised to make his life hell. That night, we got the call that he was in hospital after trying to commit suicide. We sat together all night, praying that he'd make it through. That he'd be okay. Then one day, his mother caught them fighting and the divorce papers were finalised.

She’s still not gone though. She comes back all the time, scarred from the drama that was tied to the marriage. He knows he’s done wrong by her, but nothing will be able to mend that. He proposed to my friend last week. I told her she was too young to get married. Still too immature and naive. ‘Young marriages never work out,’ I told her. ‘Your parents will never accept this,’ I tried to explain. But then she asked me to be her Maid of Honour. How could I be angry at her anymore? She just gave me one of the greatest gifts anyone could receive. To be in the presence of another human being is amazing. To be such a large part of their life, is a timeless feeling. We should always cherish the people who pass through our lives. Respect everyone we meet, because we never know what burdens, pains, or hardships they hold on their shoulders.