These 'new' journalists refer to non-professional journalists. People that are using the freedom and easy access of the web to make themselves reporters, simply because there is nothing to stop them. Granted, they will not be taken as seriously as professional reporters on 'real' news websites, but that doesn't prevent them writing and posting 'news' if they want to.
Is open news quality news?
i don't think open news is as reliable as news from 'professional' news sites, however this doesn't necessarily make them invalid. As it says in the article, open news enables 'other kinds of expertise and other kinds of know-how also have valid claims on our attention, and that these too can make valid contributions to the more plural media environment made possible — but not guaranteed — by the Net.' (Meikle Paragraph 17)
It gives those people that want an opportunity to write articles,and express there opinion, a chance to do so- something that would not be possible without the freedom of the Internet. However, one has to bear in mind that they don't know who is writing the news and there is no proof that it is true.
I think the key is that 'new journalists' tend to be experts of one sort or another. Obsessive fans, involved scientists, legal practitioners, people in the middle of crisis etc. They're not people who weren't good enough to get employed as journos.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that nobody told the 'junk-making jerks' of this world that their efforts are not as welcome as those of the people with genuine insight.