Citizen Citizen Journalism:Reboot for Journalism:Reboot for

Public Sphere?Public Sphere?

Dorothy, Jia, Luchen, Shiya, Stephanos, Dorothy, Jia, Luchen, Shiya, Stephanos, ZhuyingZhuying

IntroductionIntroduction

Public Sphere and the Modern DemocracyPublic Sphere and the Modern Democracy

GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC SPHERECITIZENS

Public Sphere and Public Sphere and MediaMedia

The Realization of Public Sphere Depends The Realization of Public Sphere Depends on Mass Media Communicating with Publicon Mass Media Communicating with Public

The Traditional Media’s Problem in The Traditional Media’s Problem in Constructing Public SphereConstructing Public Sphere

The Decay of Public SphereThe Decay of Public Sphere

Internet and Citizen Internet and Citizen JournalismJournalism

Traditional Internet

Citizen JournalismCitizen JournalismJay Rosen: “When the people formerly Jay Rosen: “When the people formerly known as the audience employ the press known as the audience employ the press tools they now have in their possession to tools they now have in their possession to inform one another, that’s citizen inform one another, that’s citizen journalism.”journalism.”

Citizen Journalists in Reporting Crisis: 9/11 Citizen Journalists in Reporting Crisis: 9/11 Attacks, Wenchuan Earthquake in China, Attacks, Wenchuan Earthquake in China, Middle East RevolutionMiddle East Revolution

Aim of ResearchAim of ResearchHow citizens are engaged in the use of social media.

How citizens’ use of social media contribute to democracy by creating public spheres.

Whether or not citizens participate in the discussion of public affairs through citizen journalism communication.

Which form of media actively involve citizens in the discussion of public affairs.

BackgroundBackground

In this research, we studied issues of UK In this research, we studied issues of UK and China's citizen journalism and China's citizen journalism environment environment

In the Background Introduction, I will first In the Background Introduction, I will first look through the Public Sphere Deficits, look through the Public Sphere Deficits, Internet Development in UK and ChinaInternet Development in UK and China

Problems in UK Public Problems in UK Public SphereSphere

According to Stephen Coleman and Jay According to Stephen Coleman and Jay Blumler, in UK, “People want democracy, Blumler, in UK, “People want democracy, but they are less willing to get involved but they are less willing to get involved with politics.”with politics.”

In the UK traditional media, “an In the UK traditional media, “an impoverishment political communication is impoverishment political communication is taking place” which results in the taking place” which results in the democracy deficit.democracy deficit.

Problems in China Public Problems in China Public SphereSphere

In China, the public sphere is tightly In China, the public sphere is tightly subdued to prevent the influence of subdued to prevent the influence of dissenting voices on public opinion.dissenting voices on public opinion.

The Chinese media is under strict control. The Chinese media is under strict control. The traditional media must propagate the The traditional media must propagate the Party message and obey the Party policies Party message and obey the Party policies instead of provoking public discussion.instead of provoking public discussion.

Internet in UK and ChinaInternet in UK and ChinaAround 40 million UK citizens have access to Around 40 million UK citizens have access to the Internet, which accounts for 77% of the the Internet, which accounts for 77% of the UK adult population. 30 million UK citizens UK adult population. 30 million UK citizens access Internet everyday. (By 2010)access Internet everyday. (By 2010)

China had 300 million Internet users, which China had 300 million Internet users, which accounts for 35% of the population, accounts for 35% of the population, surpassing the United States as the country surpassing the United States as the country with the largest Internet population in the with the largest Internet population in the world. (By 2010) world. (By 2010)

UK Citizen Journalism UK Citizen Journalism

Methodology: A total of one hundred Methodology: A total of one hundred questionnaires were administered randomly to UK questionnaires were administered randomly to UK citizens in Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.citizens in Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.

The questions were centered on the use of social The questions were centered on the use of social and traditional media in the UK.and traditional media in the UK.

Two cases for investigating UK Citizen Journalism: Two cases for investigating UK Citizen Journalism: Education cuts and UK’s intervention in LibyaEducation cuts and UK’s intervention in Libya

Questionnaire Result: Age-Questionnaire Result: Age-GenderGender

Figure 1: Age-Gender analysis:Highest percentage of participants is between the ages of 21-30. No participants for 71-80.Gender difference is small.

Questionnaire Result: SocialQuestionnaire Result: Social Media Media UsageUsage

Questionnaire Result: Attitude of Questionnaire Result: Attitude of Mainstream Media’s PS ConstructionMainstream Media’s PS Construction

All age groups think the mainstream media involve citizens only to some extent. Very few of them believe that citizens are very actively involved. No participant of the age groups 31-40, 41-50 and 81-90 thinks that mainstream media actively involve citizens in the discussion of public affairs.

Questionnaire Result: Attitude of Questionnaire Result: Attitude of Online Citizen Journalism’s PS Online Citizen Journalism’s PS

ConstructionConstruction

Young people between 15 and 30 think that online citizen journalism very actively involve citizens in discussion of public affairs. Compared to the mainstream media, very few people think that social media make citizens passive. In both cases the age groups 41-50 and 81-90 do not comment on very active involvement.

Questionnaire Result: Information Questionnaire Result: Information Source in Education Cuts and Libya Source in Education Cuts and Libya

InterventionIntervention

Newspapers are the main source of getting information followed by television and radio. Facebook, Twitter and Youtube are the alternative information sources.

Questionnaire Result: Public Discussion in Questionnaire Result: Public Discussion in Education Cut and Libya InterventionEducation Cut and Libya Intervention

Out of 96 participants 56 answered that they use media to discuss these two issues. Facebook is the most dominant medium for discussion.TV, newspapers and radio follow. The age group 15-40 use Blogs and Twitter as well.

China Citizen JournalismChina Citizen JournalismMethodology: Observation and Content Methodology: Observation and Content AnalysisAnalysis

Two Cases for investigating Chinese Citizen Two Cases for investigating Chinese Citizen Journalism: Death of a Village Chief and 2011 Journalism: Death of a Village Chief and 2011 National People’s CongressNational People’s Congress

We look through both traditional media and We look through both traditional media and online Citizen Journalism’s reporting of the online Citizen Journalism’s reporting of the two cases. two cases.

Death of a Village ChiefDeath of a Village ChiefStory of the Village Story of the Village

ChiefChief

Online Citizen Online Citizen JournalismJournalismMainstream MediaMainstream Media

Sina Weibo V.S Mainstream MediaSina Weibo V.S Mainstream Media

Sina Weibo Zhao Lihua:"It is obviously a Sina Weibo Zhao Lihua:"It is obviously a murder! So horrible! So miserable! History murder! So horrible! So miserable! History will remember this people! History will will remember this people! History will remember this tragedy!" remember this tragedy!"

Wenzhou Daily Newspaper: “On December Wenzhou Daily Newspaper: “On December 25th, there was a traffic accident 25th, there was a traffic accident happened which caused one person died.”happened which caused one person died.”

National People’s National People’s CongressCongress

Introduction of National People’s CongressIntroduction of National People’s Congress

The People’s Daily Online: Congress Agenda The People’s Daily Online: Congress Agenda Reporting “Prime Minister Wen Attended the Reporting “Prime Minister Wen Attended the Journalists Conference” “President Hu and Party Journalists Conference” “President Hu and Party Leaders Attended the Congress Discussion” and Leaders Attended the Congress Discussion” and Positive News “The Delegates’ Wise Proposals Positive News “The Delegates’ Wise Proposals Respond to the Issue of People’s Livelihood” Respond to the Issue of People’s Livelihood” “China’s New Five Year Plan Passes on Good News “China’s New Five Year Plan Passes on Good News to the World.”to the World.”

National People’s National People’s CongressCongress

Online Citizen Journalism: Tianya Club’s Online Citizen Journalism: Tianya Club’s CriticismCriticism

Criticism: Billions cost of holding the Congress Criticism: Billions cost of holding the Congress every year; Delegates’ absence of meeting; every year; Delegates’ absence of meeting; Delegates’ absurd proposals “The children Delegates’ absurd proposals “The children from countryside should not go to the from countryside should not go to the university” “The house price keeps increasing university” “The house price keeps increasing because the Chinese people are very rich.” because the Chinese people are very rich.”

Further Discussion: Citizen Further Discussion: Citizen Journalism in UK and ChinaJournalism in UK and China

The UK case show the online citizen The UK case show the online citizen journalism play an positive role in getting journalism play an positive role in getting people (especially young people 21-30) people (especially young people 21-30) engaged in public discussion. engaged in public discussion.

This result can also be proved by China’s This result can also be proved by China’s case where the high interactivity of online case where the high interactivity of online citizen journalism activates the politics citizen journalism activates the politics discussion discussion

The Gaming of Citizen Journalism The Gaming of Citizen Journalism and Mainstream Mediaand Mainstream Media

In the Construction of Pubic Sphere:In the Construction of Pubic Sphere:

Citizen Journalism’s Different Voices can hold Citizen Journalism’s Different Voices can hold the mainstream media to accountthe mainstream media to account

Citizen Journalism can set political agenda by Citizen Journalism can set political agenda by informing the pubicinforming the pubic

Citizen Journalism can create Public Sphere at Citizen Journalism can create Public Sphere at different levels: Facebook or OpenDemocracy different levels: Facebook or OpenDemocracy

Competition between Citizen Competition between Citizen Journalism and Mainstream MediaJournalism and Mainstream Media

Competition Citizen Journalism

Mainstream Media

Source of Information

Individual/Dissent Voices

Elite/Official/

Authority Voices

Public Opinion Leading

Reach Large Scale of

Public Fast Speed

Professional/

Organised/Credible

Public Sphere

Construction

High Interactivity/Weak P.S

Low Interactivity

Convergence between Citizen Convergence between Citizen Journalism and Mainstream MediaJournalism and Mainstream Media

Citizen Journalis

m

1. Integrated by Mainstream Media (eg.

iReport, Blogs on People’s Daily Online)

2. Professional Opinion Leaders Online/ Centralisation/

Professional-Amateur Partnership

Mainstream Media

1.Digitalisation/ Increased Interactivity

2. The top-visited are traditional news

media’s websites (BBC, Fox Online)

Limitations of Citizen Journalism: Limitations of Citizen Journalism: Influence and ReliabilityInfluence and Reliability

The limited citizen journalism

The limited online public sphere

China The Internet Regulation

No cross over the Party’s line/No threat to CCP’s ruling power

UK Doubt: Is it journalism?

The Digital Divide/The Babel

Objection/

ConclusionConclusion

Citizen Journalism: A Reboot of Public Citizen Journalism: A Reboot of Public Sphere?Sphere?

Positivity: Citizen Journalism offers the new Positivity: Citizen Journalism offers the new opportunity to individuals to observe, report, opportunity to individuals to observe, report, question and debate onlinequestion and debate online

Individuals can interact and experience the Individuals can interact and experience the role as citizens through online citizen role as citizens through online citizen journalism.journalism.

ConclusionConclusionLimitation: Compared with the mainstream Limitation: Compared with the mainstream media, the citizen journalism online is weak in media, the citizen journalism online is weak in influenceinfluence

In China, the online citizen journalism activities In China, the online citizen journalism activities are under strict control. No evidence show that it are under strict control. No evidence show that it empowers the people’s political power.empowers the people’s political power.

The real public sphere and democratisation rely The real public sphere and democratisation rely on a whole series of other social changes, online on a whole series of other social changes, online citizen journalism alone does not democratise.citizen journalism alone does not democratise.

Some Limitations of our ResearchSome Limitations of our Research

UK Case: Time and financial constraints did not UK Case: Time and financial constraints did not permit us to reach other parts of UK. It would permit us to reach other parts of UK. It would have been interesting to draw part of the sample have been interesting to draw part of the sample population from Scotland, Wales and Northern population from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Problem of approaching people: Ireland as well. Problem of approaching people: Whereas some people easily cooperated with us, Whereas some people easily cooperated with us, others were unwilling to support. There was no others were unwilling to support. There was no respondents from the 71-80 year group. respondents from the 71-80 year group.

Some Limitations of our ResearchSome Limitations of our Research

China’s Case: We only apply observation and China’s Case: We only apply observation and content analysis of the limited source of online content analysis of the limited source of online journalism, basically from Sina Weibo and Tianya journalism, basically from Sina Weibo and Tianya club. If time permitted, we will look for more club. If time permitted, we will look for more citizen journalism examplescitizen journalism examples

We would like to conduct questionnaires to We would like to conduct questionnaires to investigate people’s attitude as well as the investigate people’s attitude as well as the influence of citizen journalism in China.influence of citizen journalism in China.