Journalism, citizens and blogging

Internet communication technologies (netCT) have added a new dimension to the production and consumption of news journalism around the world. They have enabled the creation of new publishing spaces where diverse voices engage in conversation about matters affecting daily lives. netCTs present citizens with many opportunities to produce as well as consume information. This research will examine the ways in which the uses of netCTs in the production of news create new possibilities for citizens to engage with public life. It will compare traditional operational ideologies of journalism with those of participatory models of online news. It seeks to discover the extent to which participatory journalism has taken hold and the subsequent impact on the role of the journalist and traditional media models. In particular, the research seeks to discover whether, and if so to what degree, the practice of news blogging enhances traditional media productions. The research will also identify both supporting and opposing views of participatory media. Case studies of commercial, public and alternative media models will assess the capacities of each model of journalism to offer citizens a comprehensive and culturally flexible brand of citizen journalism.