MIDTERM OUTPUT—REALBA

 

Marybeth M. Realba

BAJ 2B

MIDTERM OUTPUT

1. Compare Citizen Journalism to Community Journalism

I learned that Citizen Journalism (also called as participative journalism) encourages the normal citizen to be involved and document or report a certain issue that is happening in his/her community – a topic that is not normally aired in mainstream –. Citizen Journalists helps the Professionals know, discover or feature an angle or story that is beyond their reach. Given the fact that the media is not all knowing, citizen journalist could be a source of information. In addition, this is why Journalism is not just for people who pursue the course but is also open for everyone. While Community Journalism is tasked for Professionals to immerse in the community, this one helps to rouse the care of the people about issues, even the little ones. This is also a form of a grass root journalism, because journalists in this field tend to be empathetic and compassionate enough to sit and care with people inside the community instead of just talking and visiting them. This is an immerse and in-depth activity that is not detached with people, because its objective is to harness the communion and to build a community thinkers. Who always asks, cares and acknowledging the thought that ‘something is need to be done’.

2. Social Issues in the Philippines that can be addressed by Community Journalism

One of the issues our society is facing, Information Illiteracy. Many of Filipino people are being a victim of Disinformation that leads them to poor decision making. And I think the role of Community Journalism can penetrate in this. Given the fact that one of the main goal of Journalism is to help the people to be informed and have an intelligent decisions that sustains a healthy functioning of democracy. This is all rooted by the government and the system that is messed up, many people are being victimized without them knowing, because they don’t care about the issues that is happening. People are just concern about how will they survive a day with enough food. They are already pre-occupied with a lot of everyday struggles the reason why they don’t allow themselves to be involved. Unfortunately, the government is taking advantage in this case to gain so much power, because they know that the power lies in the hand of the people. Community Journalism help people for being information literate in this aspect because the movement or activity in this is a wake up call for us, that having a care in social issues is not a burden but a solution for our long-term struggles. Contributing to make all the politicians accountable and responsible for people’s right and demand for a better and good governance.