CCJ- Midterm

Canega, Angeline A.                                                                Citizen and Community Journalism

BAJ-2B

1. Using your own words, compare citizen journalism to community journalism. 5–10 sentences only

Citizen journalism and community journalism both require people inside a community to participate in order for these types of journalism to function. However, the difference between the two is dependent on the roles played by the individuals in the community. 

In citizen journalism, the people who belong to a community serve as citizen journalists by telling the stories or issues they are experiencing and witnessing inside it. Although they might need the help of professional journalists to reach a wider audience and spread awareness about these issues, the main source of information and the initiative come from citizen journalists. Community journalism, on the other hand, requires guidance from the individuals inside a community to be able to identify the problems that exist inside it, initiated by the journalists. This requires the journalists to experience being part of the community for them to be knowledgeable enough about the possible issues present inside the community as they try to make the overlooked and neglected concerns of the citizens matter to the eyes of everyone inside and outside of the community, as well as the LGUs, for these issues to receive attention and the required actions needed.

To conclude, citizen journalism and community journalism values the importance of people’s participation in gathering information and resolving issues in communities.

2. Which social issues in the Philippines can be addressed by community journalism. Explain how and why. 5–10 sentences only.

One unending social issue in the Philippines is improper garbage disposal. This issue has been present for decades now in our country and has affected our environment negatively in different ways. It is one of the problems that is greatly overlooked in our communities, as it does not seem to go away even after various warnings of professionals on its harm to our environment. 

Through community journalism, we can solve this problem by: first, gathering the people and asking them what they think is the main cause of improper waste disposal in their community and its impact on them. After identifying the roots of the issue and its effects, we can approach the local government units about the concerns the people are facing and encourage them to commence programs and policies that can discipline and help improve the community at the same time. 

This would only be a success if the community and the LGUs work hand-in-hand to resolve the issue and continue to progress the programs and policies they implemented.