Citizen Journalism: The Dilemma of Risk and Opportunity

Öz

This study aims to evaluate the general situation of the literature by focusing on both the advantages and risks of citizen journalism, which is on the rise in the digital age. In this way, trying to understand what kind of academic attention this trend is subjected to in the context of new technologies that surround the field of journalism, as in other social areas, makes the research important. For this reason, document analysis was used in this qualitative research. As a result of the research, it was determined that the literature examined agreed on the idea that the participation-centered reporting potential of citizen journalism is being moved to an advanced stage day by day with the contribution of technical opportunities. On the other hand, it has been determined that the ethical risks inherent in citizen journalism limit the advantages of this journalism orientation are frequently encountered in the literature. In this context, the study points out that there is a need to develop some new intellectual processes about the problematic in question in order to minimize the risk factor and improve the ability to benefit from the advantages. As a result, it should be accepted that citizen journalism is no longer a trend to be ignored at the latest stage that technology has reached. Moreover, this understanding should be given a central role in the social processes we continue to experience. In this context, a form of citizen journalism that is far from the context of restricting civil liberties and develops in a process that includes traditional journalism should be recognized and supported.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Citizen Journalism
• Media Studies
• Journalistic Practices
• Digital Technologies

Yurttaş Gazeteciliği: Risk ve Fırsat İkilemi

Öz

Bu çalışma, dijital çağda yükselişe geçen yurttaş gazeteciliğinin hem avantajlarına hem risk içeren tablosuna odaklanarak alanyazına ilişkin genel durum değerlendirmesinde bulunma amacı taşımaktadır. Bu sayede söz konusu yönelimin diğer toplumsal alanlarda olduğu gibi gazetecilik sahasını da kuşatmaya alan yeni teknolojiler bağlamında nasıl bir akademik dikkate tabi tutulduğunu anlamaya çalışmak araştırmayı kayda değer kılmaktadır. Bu itibarla nitel araştırma desenine sahip çalışma doküman analizi sınırlarında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, incelenen alanyazının bir yandan yurttaş gazeteciliğinin sahip olduğu katılım merkezli habercilik potansiyelinin teknik imkânların da katkısıyla her geçen gün ileri bir aşamaya taşındığı fikrinde birleştiği diğer taraftan ise taşıdığı etik bağlamlı risklerin büyüklüğünün avantajlarını sınırladığı düşüncesinde yoğunlaştığı tespit edilmiştir. Bu bağlamda çalışma risk faktörünü en aza indirmek ve avantajlardan yararlanma yetisini geliştirmek için söz konusu sorunsal hakkında birtakım yeni düşünsel süreçlerin geliştirilmesine ihtiyaç olduğunu işaret etmektedir. Teknolojinin ulaştığı son aşamada yurttaş gazeteciliğinin görmezden gelinecek bir yönelim olmaktan çıktığı kabul edilmeli, deneyimlemeyi sürdürdüğümüz toplumsal süreçlerde bu anlayışa merkezi bir rol yüklenmelidir. Bu çerçevede hem sivil özgürlüklerin kısıtlanması bağlamından uzak olup hem geleneksel gazeteciliğin de paydaşı olduğu süreçte gelişen bir yurttaş gazeteciliği biçimi tanınmalı ve desteklenmelidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Yurttaş Gazeteciliği
• Medya Araştırmaları
• Gazetecilik Pratikleri
• Dijital Teknolojiler

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