Bloggers of the world, unite

The article entitled Bloggers of the world, unite written by Antony Loewenstein (2007) describes how blogs, a new technology is giving a voice to individuals. In particular Loewenstein explores the 2006 Lebanon war and how Israelis were able to connect with Lebanese through blogs. These bloggers were able to post about scared Israeli citizens in Northern Israel fearing that random missiles would drop at any minute in their living room. Through this article Loewenstein explores that non-democratic nations, do not have the same opportunities as do democratic nations. For this reason it is through blogs and citizen journalism that non-democratic nations have the opportunity to voice their opinions, feelings and general thoughts. For example; there are 700,000 active blogs in Iran, discussing sensitive issue such as; President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,the country's nuclear program, holocaust denial and US interference in the middle East. 

Example of bloggers include, a female Iraqi blogger (http://firstwordsfirstwalkfirstiniraq.blogspot.com/)  

who blogs about her feelings towards how Westerns have stereotype Arab muslims, and how these stereotypes are nothing but myths. She believes that blogging has helped her and Arabs alive, abandon paranoid attitudes and stereotypical views of westerners. Another example of a blogger is Juan cole (www.juancole.com) and Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett, who runs Australia's finest politician's blog (www.andrewbartlett.com/blog)

Bartlett writes about parliamentary deliberations and the often-tortuous political process. 

I personally believe that blogs are giving bloggers a voice and are keeping them sane. Bloggers are able to speak of there thoughts and opinions. Blogging is especially good for those who feel oppressed by blogging they are finding people with the same views who they can speak to and are giving outsiders a look at there world. Furthermore I believe that Loewenstein article is fantastic as it highlights the importance of blogging. Without blogging many would not have a voice!

Citizen Journalism

Citizen Journalism refers to people who are not journalist committing acts of journalism, through commentary and analysis , readers can participate in the content – through posting their opinions and thoughts. Citizen journalism is basically alternative press.



Its a new phenomenon storming the web. It can be describe as a new revolution changing the face of social media. Citizen Journalism can take any forms such as podcast, and blogs and can include any text, pictures and videos. A main feature of citizen journalism is that its online, this is an important feature as it is this feature that makes citizen journalism possible. The internet allows average individuals the opportunity to publish their story. For example; September 11 and the Tsunami on Boxing day.

The footage above is an example of citizen journalism, the internet gives average individual the ability to transmit information globally. (as can be seen above) Without citizen journalism the world would not have known about the 9/11 attacks. Another example of Citizen journalism is the Tsunami on Boxing day, it was thanks to citizen journalist that the world was able to know about the Tsunami on Boxing day. Below is a footage taken by a citizen journalist on the Tsunami horror. 

I personally believe that citizen journalism is a concept that advances the ideas that consumers or everyday citizen take a more active role in the news. Citizen journalism also points bias by particular reporters or news outlets and attempts to give voice to both sides on hot issues. Citizen journalism is seen by some as a threat to journalistic integrity. But i think that without some of the footage downloaded on Youtube or blogs real journalist would not have reached the latest news as quick. Citizen journalism has been responsible for pictures and footage of things like celebrities or police officers behaving badly and crimes in progress. How is the world to know about these sort of issues without citizen journalist? People are sick of stories being slant, spin and led in a particular direction by some news outlets. The public want to know the truth, cold, hard facts and be allowed to make up their own minds.