Really!? The Tsunami changed everything

[Anne Mirtschin]

How could a Tsunami change everything? What has that question got to do with citizen journalism and what is citizen journalism? I am classified a baby boomer and can remember when we got our first television. I was just 10 years old and we could not believe that we could see black and white moving images on a set in our own home. Now, I can take photos with my flip video and put them up on the internet to watch.
Listening to the fascinating and thought provoking keynote address by Richard J. Roth from the Northwestern University in Qatar, at Qatar Academy, Doha made us aware of the role that ordinary citizens can have in journalism. The advent of mobile phones, digital cameras, flip videos, twitter etc has placed in the ‘pockets’ of citizens the powerful possibility that they could be journalists. Could this be the beginning of the end for TV news, television itself, newspapers and magazines? Will we lose our privacy? What responsibilities do we have as citizen journalists? What other digital citizenship issues do you think this possibility raises? Can you cite recent examples from your community or country where a citizen has been the first to capture videos, photos of events that have made the news?
Richard Roth made a statement "that if you do not want your mother to know you are with someone, then do not be with them, as it will be on Youtube within 24 hours".
What are your thoughts?

[Julie Lindsay]

Anne, thanks for starting this discussion, and such an appropriate title! I was surprised Richard cited the Tsunami in 2004 as a landmark case....but when you think about it, the media and reporting back was largely done by ordinary citizens on the spot. I was also wondering about 9/1, but in contrast I think this event, equally if not more earth-shattering, had many official reporters and photographers present as well.
Here is the link back to the FCP09-2 Keynote wiki to listen to the podcast of Richard's talk, and to view the images and watch the video (coming soon!).
In terms of privacy, yes we have lost a lot in recent years, however it does come down to how you manage your own digital footprint and how you behave as a digital citizen by showing respect for others when using multimedia online. Common sense must prevail at all time. I think the ability to share globally and immediately promotes better understanding and far outweighs any negatives or any loss of privacy.

I look forward to reading responses to this.

[Steve Madsen]

I have lived in Australia for slightly over 30 years. I am also a baby boomer.

I happened to be in the USA to visit my parents when the Tsunami took place in South East Asia.

The US radio and TV channels focused on the event and kept telling the US audience how much money the USA had contributed to the disaster.

My mother, in her early 70's, asked: "Why aren't the other countries contributing money?"

I led my mother to her computer, the Internet and the Australian Broadcasting Commission website where, lo and behold, Australians had contributed more money per person than the USA. In addition, it listed the other countries and their donations. Indeed, more than just the USA was making contributions at that time.

Will citizen journalism overcome this type of insular reporting of news?

[Juan Sebastian Cortes]

i agree

[Anne Mirtschin]

Tell us a little more, Juan. Why do you agree? Have you any examples of citizen journalism in your country to share?

[Juan Sebastian Cortes]

Well, I agree that the Tsunami change everything. Basically, what I mean is that not only the Tsunami but important events happening around Us like the 9/11, or the Bombs happening in Europe, all of these have changed and affected drastically the media.

My parents used to watch the news everyday, but since Internet came and other tools such as youtube, and blogs appeared, they don't watch Tv as before. They now rely on the internet to inform themselves principally because we live very far from our country.
In my opinion, I think face-book plays a good role as well. The main reason of why I use Face book its because I get to know events that happen in Colombia and that are not that popular in the world. I mean, I get to know what happens in my neighborhood!, and it is awesome because its like I am in two places at the same time. People can post videos in face-book, they make groups and that it is a good way of citizen journalism.

So yah, that is what I mean when I said I agree. The world is connected :D

[Megan]

I wasn't actually present for the presentation at my school last week (I was in Dubai on vacation), but I've started listening to the podcast that's on our class wiki. I haven't listened to much of it yet, however it seems like a really interesting topic. It's true that citizen journalism and uploading is basically taking over the world, however I think that Richard Roth's statement above is over-exaggerated. I believe that as long as we are cautious, there is no reason as to why we cannot keep our privacy. Ethics need to be developed and understood when it comes to citizen journalism, and it is my belief that sometime in the near future some strict rules may be developed that insure our fears won't be met.

[Anne Mirtschin]

Megan what a wonderful response and I love your positive optimistic attitude as privacy can be such an issue. We have just had a case, two days ago, in the state where I live, where several students filmed porn (students involved in sexual activities) with their mobile phones and within hours, many, many students across the state of Victoria had received it on their phones. However it was said the students had consented to being filmed. That also raises ethical issues.
Thank you for sharing and I hope you listen to the complete podcast as it was quite interesting.

[Juan Sebastian Cortes]

WOOW porn is an issue, and it is constantly growing. People should also be responsible for what they post, and that is the main issue

I agree megan

[Abdulaziz]

during the presentation of Mr. Richard Roth, i learnt some interesting things about citizen journalism as well as journalism itself. Much of what was talked about was quite interesting, though i do think that his statement about youtube is quite over the top, but I do think that privacy is an issue and it is being taken over by citizen journalism since latelty everything has a camera on it, some pens have cameras and video cameras in them. This does really also raise many ethical and religious issues in places where religion is very strict. Though i do agree with what megan had mentioned about strict laws being put into action to ensure that fears are not met and really theres nothing to worry about, even though citizen journalism is really growing and it may be for the good or for the bad. Hopefully citizen journalism will help better our world.

[Anne Mirtschin]

Adulazia, as many of us in this project come from different countries and cultures it is good to remind us about different religions and sometimes differeng moral values. It is so good to hear the young people wish to retain their privacy and that you feel that citizen journalism will not become mainstream in removing it. Your last sentence says it all "Hopefully citizen journalism will help better our world."

[Matilde]

I agree that modern technology can create a privacy problem. I think it might have become to easy to take a photo or a video. The cameras have become so small and high tech that it is really easy to use them without people noticing. Although the modern technology is really great and very user friendly it is sad, when people use it in an inappropriate way. It really makes you think how easy it is to take a photo of someone. I recall Richard Roth stated that an ordinary women got her photo take without her acknowledge 22 times in ONE day. Probably all the photos taken created no harm and probably was taken in security reasons. But getting your photo taken for security reasons might be what makes you feel unsecured. Maybe our privacy is the cost for our security?

[Anne Mirtschin]

Matilde, you have quite a profound question at the end of your comment, where we will need to weigh up the costs and benefits of maintaining our privacy.