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 (1st 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 2012- Further arrests – Jan 2013- Prominent arrest – Jackie Asheke – Feb 2013- 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