Andrew Keen’s “The Cult of the Amateur” discusses the concept of “citizen journalism.” His extreme displeasure pertains to the idea of citizen journalists, who are not even remotely trained in the field of journalism by experts, are constantly a negative presence online. Keen’s feelings of disdain for these everyday normal people who contribute to millions of online articles and blogs are not only blasphemy, but also a hindrance in the professional field of journalism. He writes, “Professional journalists acquire their craft through education and through the firsthand experience of reporting and editing the news under the careful eye of other professionals. In contrast, citizen journalists have no formal training or expertise, yet they routinely offer up opinion as fact, rumor as reportage, and innuendo as information. On the blogosphere, publishing one’s own “journalism” is free, effortless, and unencumbered by pesky ethical restraints or bothersome editorial boards.”
Reno Gazette-Journal coverage of Reno Air Races 2011 crash
The YouTube user slicker0492 uploaded a video on September 16, 2011 of a plane crash in Reno, Nevada at the Reno National Championship Air Races. The video shows footage at the air races of a pilot whose plane went out of control crashing near seated fans. Although the footage does not show the fans who became casualties as a result of the crash, the quality of the footage more than likely means that the photographer was using a camera video application on his cell phone. In addition, no other footage as vivid as slicker0492’s has been released or discovered since the day of the accident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCNePeKn3Tg
YouTube video footage of crash
While Keen criticizes citizen journalists, mainly for their presence in websites like wikipedia, without them, internet users cannot view news stories in the same light like the Reno Air Races accident. One of the biggest examples (and perhaps the first) of accidental video turned into lucrative footage is the JFK assassination. The JFK assassination is two fold. Firstly, the assassination itself was caught in a home video camera that was clearly confiscated by the U.S. government. Secondly, Lee Harvey Oswald, the first and only suspect that was to be charged in JFK’s assassination, was murdered on national TV. Today, we live in a new age where the assassination footage that was caught could have been uploaded onto a site like YouTube. In addition, persons all over the world can take apart in delivering the news with their cell phones and video cameras.
Although Keen argues against the validity of citizens writing news and rumors, how can one not be fascinated with the concept of providing news with real footage. One can also make the argument that video footage can be provide bias too. However, footage of the Reno Air Races crash does not create controversies other than people’s ideas about censorship.
I agree with your idea that while Keen is valid for being upset by citizen journalists (due to things like rumors and mistakes), but citizen journalism does have its importance. Like you said we wouldn't have home videos of events. But it is important to have those videos because journalists cannot catch every event. So if journalists don't catch news worthy events on tape, and citizens do, this is clearly important.
ReplyDeleteRyan, this a really good blog. You summarized Keen's argument adequately while still strongly conveying your views. Furthermore, great example,the airshow crash in Reno was horrific but it perfectly illustrates your argument. Citizen journalism is becoming more and more reliable and available. I wonder however, do you feel a lack of professionalism could be a potential downfall and tarnish the reputation of citizen journalism as begin unreliable.
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