JOURNALISM OUTSIDE THE MEDIA Namibia - MAY 2013
Citizen Journalism What is Citizen journalism or Participatory journalism - Is it news media that is created and produced by citizens that have participated in a newsworthy event? Definitions are still being defined and reworked and fine tuned - Agreed that it is non professionals who are eye-witnesses (1 st person accounts) or gather and process, analyse and report (publish) newsworthy events/happening on public platform Power to define news has been has changed New phenomenon Is new media the platform for citizen journalism
Journalism outside the media in Namibia Access – there is still limited access to internet Connectivity – unstable and longer forms of online mechanisms or platforms are not popular Devices – largely mobile No independent or originals sources exist Sources that do exist – source news from other “publications "and “repost” on their online platform
Mass media and the audience - Namibia Audiences to online platforms are limited Traditional media and new media recognise the need to engage in the new technology but also recognise the limitations of the audience New media rely on traditional media to take message (news) to larger audiences -SMS pages in news papers and on radio -Facebook for TV -“Twittwrsphere” in dailies New media platforms seem as complimentary to traditional media and the majority of participation is commentary and voicing protest or affirmation Niche audiences more popular on social media platforms Increased communities on FB – Talk shebeen, SPYL Largely used by PR professionals to reach out to their particular traget audiences to promote products and services and gain required feedback from customers
Mobilising audiences “MiniskirtGate -Rundu beach arrests – Dec Further arrests – Jan Prominent arrest – Jackie Asheke – Feb Traditional media coverage – Feb 2013 and Police Inspector statement -Social media outcry -Gender groups and supporters mobilise themselves via social media platforms -Protests organised via social media -Protests covered by traditional media
Mobilising audiences “The list” -List was “published” privately to a number of persons via social media (Facebook) -News and commentary spread fast across the media -Traditional media took note -No authoritative source found -Not covered by traditional media due to popular sentiment on social media that it was not newsworthy -Issue died
User generated content Radio wave & 99 FM via Facebook NBC TV and Radio via SMS Radio Energy – polls Data journalism – new and source of content creation mostly utilised by PR professionals
Blogs Rare Popular among photographers Largely a site to promote work rather than journalism Entertainment, celebrity, sport and fashion
Klaar, Opuwo, End