By Garvita Gahlot

Video: You Won't Believe the Impact of Citizen Journalism on Modern Media (Modlingua Live)

This Modlingua Live webinar looked at citizen journalism and why it matters today. After an introduction by Mr. Ravi Kumar, the panel set out the difference: professional journalists work for media organisations and report national and international events, while citizen journalists are ordinary people who share news themselves or pass reliable information to media houses. It goes by many names, including participatory journalism, network journalism, grassroots media and local journalism.

Why citizen journalists are needed

Citizen journalism grew with radio, television and, above all, mobile phones. A professional reporter cannot be everywhere, so citizens fill the gaps and get information out quickly. The panel discussed examples such as the COVID-19 situation in Delhi, the India-China border conflict and the George Floyd case.

Qualities of a good citizen journalist

• Create original, reliable content and never invent stories or add hype.
• Back every claim with proof.
• Be consistent, alert to your surroundings and ethical in your conduct.
• Stay neutral. A journalist is not a judge: present the facts and let the public decide.
• Keep improving as a reader, writer and analyst.
• Network widely, build a community of like-minded people and stay patient.

A blog, a website or social media accounts are enough to start, and they cost little.

Boon or bane?

Citizen journalists can be present in the moment, show angles that media houses miss and give local communities a voice. The downside is credibility: facts are not always checked, so reports can be unreliable. The panel's conclusion was that the best results come when professional journalists and citizen journalists work together.

The session closed with advice from Dr. Sanjay Kumar Bahl, Director of Pyramid College of Business and Technology and mentor for the talk.

Stories travel further when they reach people in their own language. Learn about Modlingua's quality translation services.