When members of the public, people who aren't paid to do it, create news articles and videos to express their views on current events and news. Can come from a variety of places, such as videos on Youtube and Vimeo, blogs. social media and appearing on talk shows such as Question Time.
It is important because it gives the public a chance to speak and say their opinion, which otherwise wouldn't be voiced as big news distributors usually reflect the opinions of the majority, not niche opinions. This is necessary, so people know that they're not alone in their opinion, and gives others the opportunity to hear other opinions and appreciate other points of view.
Dan Gillmor
Writes about citizen journalism, and observes that the public, through (mainly social) media such as Twitter access news before TV News and main channels of distribution. Also talks about how big media companies have massive control over how the population sees and discovers news, and discusses how we can take back some of this control, i.e. citizen journalism.
From his website:
The new project reflects my strong belief that we need turn media “consumers” into active (even activist) users instead of passive receptacles.
Two books he created:
We the Media
Mediactive - Trying to turn consumers into active participants in the collecting and distribution of news.
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