MSM Idiot Turned Journalism Teacher Says Citizen Journalism “Too Risky”
So a former mainstream media (NBC) correspondent turned “associate professor of telecommunications” at Georgia University is saying that citizen journalism will destroy journalistic credibility.
(Chortle)
I believe that people like Mr. Hazinski, and news organizations like NBC have already succeeded at destroying the journalistic credibilty of the mainstream media.
He said:
“…Journalism schools such as mine at the University of Georgia should create mini-courses to certify citizen journalists in proper ethics and procedures…”
Proper ethics? PROPER ETHICS?
Physician, heal thyself.
From Hazinski’s article in AJC:
“The news industry should find some way to monitor and regulate this new trend.”
You’re beginning to get a lot more news … from you.
David Hazinski.
It ranges from the CNN YouTube debates to political blogs to cellphone video of that sniper who opened fire at an Omaha Mall. These are all examples of so called “citizen journalism,” the hot new extension of the news business where the audience becomes the reporter.
Supporters of “citizen journalism” argue it provides independent, accurate, reliable information that the traditional media don’t provide. While it has its place, the reality is it really isn’t journalism at all, and it opens up information flow to the strong probability of fraud and abuse. The news industry should find some way to monitor and regulate this new trend.
The premise of citizen journalism is that regular people can now collect information and pictures with video cameras and cellphones, and distribute words and images over the Internet. Advocates argue that the acts of collecting and distributing makes these people “journalists.” This is like saying someone who carries a scalpel is a “citizen surgeon” or someone who can read a law book is a “citizen lawyer.” Tools are merely that. Education, skill and standards are really what make people into trusted professionals. Information without journalistic standards is called gossip.
But unlike those other professions, journalism — at least in the United States — has never adopted uniform self-regulating standards. There are commonly accepted ethical principals — two source confirmation of controversial information or the balanced reporting of both sides of a story, for example, but adhering to the principals is voluntary. There is no licensing, testing, mandatory education or boards of review. Most other professions do a poor job of self-regulation, but at least they have mechanisms to regulate themselves. Journalists do not.
So without any real standards, anyone has a right to declare himself or herself a journalist. Major media outlets also encourage it. Citizen journalism allows them to involve audiences, and it is a free source of information and video. But it is also ripe for abuse.
CNN’s last YouTube Republican debate included a question from a retired general who is on Hillary Clinton’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender steering committee. False Internet rumors about Sen. Barack Obama attending a radical Muslim school became so widespread that CNN and other news agencies did stories debunking the rumors. There are literally hundreds of Internet hoaxes and false reports passed off as true stories, tracked by sites such as snopes.com.
Having just anyone produce widely distributed stories without control can have the reverse effect from what advocates intend. It’s just a matter of time before something like a faked Rodney King beating video appears on the air somewhere.
Journalism organizations should head that off. Citizen reports can be a valuable addition to news and information flow with some protections:
• Major news organizations must create standards to substantiate citizen-contributed information and video, and ensure its accuracy and authenticity.
• They should clarify and reinforce their own standards and work through trade organizations to enforce national standards so they have real meaning.
• Journalism schools such as mine at the University of Georgia should create mini-courses to certify citizen journalists in proper ethics and procedures, much as volunteer teachers, paramedics and sheriff’s auxiliaries are trained and certified.
Journalists generally don’t like any kind of standards or regulation. Many argue that standards could infringe on freedom of the press and journalism shouldn’t be regulated.
But we have already seen the line between news and entertainment blur enough to destroy significant credibility. Continuing to do nothing as information flow changes will further erode it. Journalism organizations who choose to do nothing may soon find the line between professional and citizen journalism gone as well as the trust of their audiences.
Nods to drillanwr.
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Seeing people such as Pat Dollard and Michael Yon and a handful others who put their wallets and lives on the line to actually get and deliver REAL news and truth from the war zone(s) … And how important blogs have been to getting those citizen journalists’/reporters’ stories out, and the researching and investigating and “policing” of journalistic malpractice of the MSM in the last few/several years the blogs have been providing, THIS is a prime example of the old media’s primal fear of their growing irrelevance in the modern world of information flow and accurate news reporting … and most importantly, power and control over us, the masses/populace.
December 14th, 2007 at 9:53 amSo now they have ethics? These are the same guys that let Dan Rather skate with his bullshit story. Now here comes Hacksinski saying that we need integrity and ethics in journalism, what a crock.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:08 amIt’s easy to see why though, circulation is way down, viewership is dropping and the ad dollars are going away. This is all about money.
so, journalists are “human”, while they are not infaillible, they still revere or fear who is providing their “bread” ; as far as “ethics” are concerned, seems it was easier to respect their rules before “big brother” invested the net ; dunno if a “watergate” could get out now.
anyway, we still have the liberty to surf on the net and find different sources ; but for how long !
December 14th, 2007 at 10:16 am~phfeh!~
Crunks 2007: The Year in Media Errors and Corrections
Written and compiled by Craig Silverman
http://www.regrettheerror.com/regret-articles/crunks-07-the-year-in-media-errors-and-corrections
December 14th, 2007 at 10:17 amHezinski? Neee-ver heard of him…
December 14th, 2007 at 10:21 amTHIS, format is the new wave in journalism a trans forming force. The interaction with the public is critical. A two way street in as close to real time as possible, is what will keep honesty and ethics at the forefront of issues.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:23 amSo as the MSM looses more and more viewers watch them attack the internet as a unreliable source, and or try to control it.
@franchie
so, journalists are “human”, while they are not infaillible, they still revere or fear who is providing their “bread” ; as far as “ethics” are concerned, seems it was easier to respect their rules before “big brother” invested the net ; dunno if a “watergate” could get out now.
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Don’t know if I correctly and accurately glean proper meaning from your translated replies here, but I certainly hope you are NOT defending our biased and complicit news MSM in the States …
“Human”? Historically, in this country, the “press” has NEVER been considered “human” … As to “bread” providers, hell, they’ve been given “Have at it” to the stinking cookie jar! Check the link I provided in one of my above replies. If any other “industry” or business or profession practiced such malpractice they would either be in jail or out of work.
I have NO idea who you are calling Big Brother.
As to the “watergate” remark, You had better bet your house it would “get out” today. Hell, if the casual and harmless remarks by a Senator (R) made at the PRIVATE 100th birthday party of another Senator (R) can make the top of the headlines in the MSM for WEEKS, you had better believe a “watergate” would be reported … And if “Watergate” didn’t really exist, the MSM would make it up with faked documents to boot (See: Dan Rather, Jason Blair, Scott Beauchamp …)
The MSM in this country has a very big agenda … and it is NOT to report the facts of a story in a clear and accurate manner with a true responsibility to the reader/viewer.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:05 pm“The news industry should find some way to monitor and regulate this new trend.”
Aren’t these the same people that cry like little bitches when someone regulates and criticizes what they report.
“…Journalism schools such as mine at the University of Georgia should create mini-courses to certify citizen journalists in proper ethics and procedures…”
Code for “We need to send amateur journalists to indoctrination courses in communism and left wing agendas.”
December 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pmdrillanwr
but I certainly hope you are NOT defending our biased and complicit news MSM in the States …
certainly not, unless we weren’t their “victims” too
Big Brother
I have been reading that lately :
http://www.alternet.org/rights/69105/?page=entire
I don’ think your country is unic in doing so ; I expect our inteligence does too, may-be not systematically at the moment, but it’s on the way
The MSM in this country has a very big agenda … and it is NOT to report the facts of a story in a clear and accurate manner with a true responsibility to the reader/viewer.
so it is by us
as far a “watergate”, I understand your country is more severe
on my side, if it happens, the case would be shadowed by a long investigation procedure, that none care and or understand the goals, so even the France 2 journalist who made a manipulation with images of Israeli killing a child, the trial happened because there was a charge that a jewish association madeagainst him, and though, till now, not concluant or over, but the journalist won’t recognize his bias, and fears no jail imprisonnement, may-be money to pay back, if he will be recognized guilty
the only papers who fear court trial are those who talk of fame “jet-set people”, private life is well protected ; and if not, in many case these “people” instigate a procedure, it’s their way to make money too
December 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pm“citizen journalism will destroy journalistic credibility.”
It already has by exposing DBM’s bias and bold face lies against those who dare not to agree with them.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:50 pmYeah, journalism has such a good track record.
Ever heard of Yellow Journalism? Fleet street? Tabloids?
When a newspaper cites sources, a bibliography, to every story is when I will take them seriously.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:00 pm“Journalistic credibility”? Hard to destroy what doesn’t exist!
PJM recently ran an article on the invasion of overtly biased UK media into the US. It referenced this great skit, a hi-speed summary of their audiences. I daresay a similar rundown for the US would be just as funny/enlightening!
December 14th, 2007 at 3:04 pmOxymoron of the day = Journalistic credibility.
And the label for the “liberal MSM” is now officially the “CORRUPT Liberal MSM”.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:45 pm“• Journalism schools such as mine at the University of Georgia should create mini-courses to certify citizen journalists in proper ethics and procedures…”
read - certify citizen jounralists in how to campaign for dems.
Heres a thought - why don’t you get your own journalistic house in order before you want to come over and trash mine.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:45 pm