Tackling the misconceptions and prejudices surrounding citizen journalism

Abstract

The study focus on ways of tackling the misconception and prejudices surrounding citizen journalism. citizen journalism is a process of collecting, processing, analyzing and dissemination of news or information by untrained journalist using the social media platforms. This study aims to examine the various misconceptions and prejudices that give rise to ethical concerns about citizen journalism practice in Nigeria, to find out the legal concerns about citizen journalism practice in Nigeria and to find out ways of tackling misconceptions and prejudices surrounding citizen journalism practice in Nigeria. The study is anchored on theory of public sphere and technological determinism theory. The study adopted survey method of research with an in-depth interview as instrument for data collection. Interview was conducted with four journalists, three working in the mainstream news organizations in Nigerian. The results of the study indicated lack of legal provision that will guide the practice of citizen journalism, sentimental attachment to issues by citizen journalist, lack of censorship are the reasons for the misconceptions and prejudices surrounding citizen journalism. It was recommended that legal provision and censorship to guide the practice of citizen journalism, stated punishment for defaulters, use of artificial intelligence to control information or news publish by citizen journalists, training of citizen journalists among others will help to tackle the misconceptions and prejudices surrounding citizen journalism.