Citizen journalism is the new media: experts

MULTAN: The new era of modern journalism is linked with the promotion of ‘citizen journalism’ which would produce a vibrant and energetic journalistic community at the grass root level. Hence, it is the future of media.

These views were expressed by experts during a seminar which was jointly organised by the Punjab Higher Education Commission and Government Post Graduate College, Civil Lines, Multan the other day. The seminar was organised for the students of mass communication to create awareness about the use of social media and its connectedness in the highly globalised world for the purpose of news formation and opinion making.

While addressing the participants, journalist Sheraz Hasnat said the discipline of mass communication was not only about the theory. “Theoretical as well as practical knowledge is equally important in this discipline,” he added. He said due to the easy access to social media, people would rely more on citizen journalism in future.



He maintained, “People themselves are now acting as journalists through social media giving rise to citizen journalism. The time has changed now, people themselves are reporting and getting feedback of the pieces of information they are spreading across the world through Facebook, twitter, and other platforms.”

Hasnat pointed out people like and share those objects on social media platforms which relate to their personal beliefs and aligns with their opinion. “In this way, likeminded people keep sharing the information and ultimately it becomes the truth,” he said.

“It is a reality that if people keep on discussing the things which is 98% rumor and 2% truth, it becomes a truth,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bahauddin Zakariya University Mass Communication Department Chairperson Dr Ashraf Khan said, “The students should be taught about various social media tools so they can make effective contribution in their field.”

He added, “The students, the future journalists, must be taught about the positive use of social media as society is becoming less tolerant because of the fake news being spread through social media.”

Due to the huge influence of social media in the lives of people, Ashraf said the truth was becoming a rare commodity and objective facts were less influential in shaping public opinions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2017.