The Importance Of Citizen Journalism And Alternative Media

In recent years, a shifting media paradigm and the emergence of citizen journalism and alternative media has resulted in a greater plurality of media voices and media properties offering alternative perspectives and viewpoints. Thanks to changes in technology, as well as changes in the nature of mainstream media, there has been both a growth in the demand for alternative media and citizen journalism, as well as increased opportunities for independent media organizations and individuals to make contributions in this space. The question of whether these alternative news organizations and citizen journalists can begin to pick up the slack left by an increasingly homogenous and corporatized mass media is contentious and sparks passionate debate

In recent years, concentration of mass media ownership has functioned to dramatically limit the stakeholders controlling major media firms. Indeed, the literature notes that over time, major media companies have pursued strategies of integration, globalization, and global growth (Croteau & Hoynes, 2006). Part of this has also involved the increasing concentration of media ownership among a few major media companies (Croteau & Hoynes, 2006). As a result, a small number of very large multinational corporations own the majority of mainstream media properties, thus limiting the potential for alternative viewpoints and perspectives to emerge in mainstream press coverage. Concentration of media ownership means that smaller and independent companies find it more difficult to enter the news media space (Craig, 2015). In addition, the merging of many large media companies has meant that smaller companies have been unable to compete in terms of resources (Craig, 2015). While the internet offers more potential for the entry of citizen journalists and alternative media organizations, broadcast television remains firmly in the grip of major corporate media firms (Craig,

The public, desperate for the news media to challenge powerful and authoritative entities and institutions to ensure they are held accountable, has increasingly turned to alternative sources and platforms for their news. Thanks to the internet and the proliferation of internet access, the readership of alternative weekly news publications has risen from just three million in 1989, to almost eight million in 2007 (Kenix, 2011). At the same time, there has been a major corresponding decline in the number of people who get their news from mainstream news outlets (Kenix, 2011). Moreover, the growth of an anti-mainstream media sentiment among many in society has bolstered the field of citizen journalism (Moore, 2014). This helps to make clear the notion that alternative media and citizen journalism can pick up the slack from mainstream media. These organizations are better oriented to accurately report the news thanks to their separation from direct corporate influence. In contrast to traditional and mainstream news reporting organizations, citizen journalists are not motivated to entertain, nor are they trying to serve corporate