DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL JOURNALIST AND CITIZEN JOURNALIST

INTRODUCTION Defining a journalist is both elusive and problematic. It is quite difficult to figure out who is covered by the term. Most especially, as journalism undergoes a profound shift towards the electronics and new media. WHO IS A JOURNALIST?  A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST As contained in the Nigeria Press Council Law, a journalist is “any person (not being less than 18years of age) engaged in the collection, processing and dissemination of information for us in the press and who has been accredited by the Nigeria Union of journalist”. It should be noted that press here includes radio, television, wire services, newspapers, magazines and such other channels of communication involved in the collection and dissemination of information. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “a journalist collects and disseminates information about current events, people, trends and issues. They include; ·        Reporter: who creates reports as a profession for broadcast or publication in the media ·        Columnist: who writes pieces that appear regularly in newspapers or magazines ·        Editors: ·         Visual journalist: such as photographers, graphic artists and page designers etc  According to The News Manual, “Journalists are principally men and women who present that information as news to the audience of newspaper, magazine, radio or television stations or the internet”. Encarta Dictionaries defines a journalist as “somebody engaged in journalism; a writer or editor for a newspaper or magazine or for television or radio”. WHO IS A CITIZEN JOURNALIST? A CITIZEN JOURNALIST According to Wikipedia, Citizen Journalism “is the concept of members of the public playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information”. It is otherwise referred to as “public, participatory, democratic or street journalism”. Citizen Journalism should however not be confused with “community journalism or civil journalism”, which are practiced by professional journalism. Again, it is not to be seen as “collaborative journalism” which is practiced by professional and non-professional working together. It is a specific form of citizen media. Thus, a Citizen Journalist is a freelance journalist who frequently writes on new media issues. A person who without professional journalism training uses the tools of modern technology and the global distribution of the internet to create augment or fact-check media on their own or in collaboration with others. For example, such a person can write on a topical issue on his/her blog or in an online forum or could fact-check a newspaper article from the traditional media and point out factual errors or bias on the blog or may snap a digital photo of a news worthy event happening in his/her town and post it online or might video tape a similar event and post it on site such as YouTube. It should be noted that the intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires. Suffice me to say that in comparism, a Journalist is a professional who has undergone training in journalism while the Citizen Journalist is a non-professional. Traditional journalists are journalist that acquired basic knowledge in journalism in other words they are professionally trained to carry out specific duties that pertains to the profession while citizens journalist does not acquired any knowledge as regard journalism profession. They are road  side journalist so to speak. Traditional journalists are very familiar with  the ethics of journalism that guide the profession while carrying out their duties, while citizens journalists are ignorant of ethics of journalism, Traditional journalists are mindful of danger associated with reckless misinformation while citizens journalist are oblivious of such danger. Traditional journalists in carry out their professional duties knows the best style of writing to communicate to his or her readers while citizens journalist just write for the fun of it. Traditional journalists are journalist recognized by law to work in media houses while citizens journalist are not recognized by law. Traditional journalist knows the pros and cons of journalism profession while citizens journalist are not privilege to know it.   In conclusion, the difference between traditional journalist and citizens journalist is very clear and cannot be overemphasized. FRANCIS OLAGBUJI.