The Rise and Rise of UGC

The following information is based on the Media Magazine article, The Rise and Rise of UGC (Dec 2009) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bR0yBbZK6Y0tP1THZAw1vt9y-VFUnsR_v9i98I7d6nk/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1

Examples

• Start of the LA Riots
• Tsunami-December 24th 2004
• London bombings-July 5th 2005
• Mumbai bombings-November 2008
• Hudson River plane crash-January 15th 2009

Theory

• Moral panic
• Folk devils
• Hypodermic needle model

Benefits to institutions

News institutions are able to gain real life footage through user generated content. This is then used for their News stories through various media platforms such as Newspapers, radio, TV and online news. It allows news institutions to gain audiences views and attention by providing actual first hand footage from events, enhancing the realism.

Benefits to audience

Audiences are able to witness news with images/video clips which help make news more believable.
Some audiences have even benefited from user generated content. For example, the Tsunami on December 26th 2004 was one of thr worst natural disasters in recent time. Tourists were filming the disaster and a few days later, social networking provided witness accounts which helped survivor's and family members get in touch, acting as a forum.

Wider issues and debates

• Not all UGC may be trusted. Bias audiences may film/take pictures of something or someone to purposely portray it in a negative light.
• It is argued that journalists are losing their jobs due to the rise in citizen journalism.
• Audiences want to 'see it to believe it.' With growing technology, news sources need to provide evidence of stories as them telling us or writing it is not enough.

SHEP

Social: News institutions and audiences interact through social media networking sites such as Twitter as information is shared by inquisitions and audiences have the ability to comment and share the feed/stories.

Historic: Citizen journalism has increased, institutions were reliant on journalists before to capture an interesting story.

Economic: The occupation of journalists is in decline as it is argued that they are losing their jobs due to the rise in citizen journalism.

Political: Information can be bias, therefore institutions may only use content in their favour/belief.


1) What is meant by the term ‘citizen journalist’?

Citizen journalism is the collection, dissemination, and analysis of news and information by the general public, especially by means of the Internet.

2) What was one of the first examples of news being generated by ‘ordinary people’?

The start of the LA Riots.

3) List some of the formats for participation that are now offered by news organisations.

Social networking sites have introduced message boards, polls, chat rooms and Q&A, offering UGC.

4) What is one of the main differences between professionally shot footage and that taken first-hand (UGC)?

One of the main differences is the quality. Professional footage is clear and steady, whereas UGC footage tends to be quite shaky, blurry and of a lower quality. This however creates realism in the shot.

5) What is a gatekeeper?

A gatekeeper is the person who decides what shall pass through each gate section. The gating process can include a news item winding through communication channels in a group.

6) How has the role of a gatekeeper changed?

Institutions are now regulating online  to see what is trending and what news is being shown. Before, institutions controlled what audiences see, however with developed technology we have greater access to content online e.g. YouTube.

7) What is one of the primary concerns held by journalists over the rise of UGC?

The decline in the job role of a journalist is a primary concern as user generated content and citizen journalism is a threat to the industry. Institutions cannot afford to pay several journalists to capture news therefore UGC is used instead.

What impact is new/digital media having on the following:

News stories: More use of user generated content. News institutions rely on citizen journalism when reporting a news story so audiences can 'see it to believe it.'

The news agenda: Institutions use stories that interest audiences, as well as having footage to show their story.

The role of professionals in news: New/digital media has caused a decline in professionals in the news e.g. journalists. UGC means that citizen journalism is now used as oppose to professional journalism footage/shots as the quality is more realistic.