Read the passage. Then answer the questions that follow. …
Read the passage. Then answer the questions that follow. Citizen Journalism: News from Everywhere 1 In the past, only trained professionals reported the news. Today, however, ordinary people can share news stories, photographs, and videos instantly through social media and websites. This practice is called citizen journalism. A citizen journalist is someone who is not a professional reporter but who documents news events – accidents, protests, natural disasters – and shares them with the public. Citizen journalism has become significant in recent years because of advances in smartphone technology. Nearly everyone now carries a portable camera and can transmit news from anywhere in the world. 2 Citizen journalism has changed how news reaches the public in a dramatic way. Traditional news organizations used to control what news stories were available to people. Now, citizens can cover events that reporters may not be able to reach. During natural disasters, for example, citizen journalists often document destruction before professional news teams arrive. The photographs and videos they transmit can have a significant impact on public opinion. Many people say they feel more connected to events when they see raw footage from an ordinary person than when they watch a polished news broadcast. 3 However, citizen journalism comes with serious risks. Unlike professional reporters, most citizen journalists have no training for covering dangerous situations. They may try to document an event – a fire, a flood, or a violent protest – without understanding how hazardous it can be. Some have been killed or injured while trying to get photographs or videos. In addition, without professional guidance, citizen journalists sometimes put themselves in situations they cannot control, which makes their work even more dangerous than they realize. 4 There are also serious ethical challenges. Professional journalists are trained to verify information before publishing it. Citizen journalists, however, may share what they see without checking the facts carefully. As a result, false or misleading stories can spread quickly. When readers scan social media and look at the images that accompany posts, they may not question whether the information is accurate. The pressure to share news first – before anyone else – can lead to the publication of fake stories or incorrect information. 5 Despite these problems, many professional journalists value the contribution of citizen journalists. Some news organizations even invite ordinary people to submit their photographs and videos. This gives people a sense that their voices matter and that they can influence the news. At the same time, professional journalists remind the public that trained reporters bring experience and ethical standards to the profession that citizen journalists may lack. The two groups may work best together, each contributing something the other cannot. Which paragraph’s main idea is: ‘False information can spread quickly through citizen journalism.’
Read Details