What is Citizen Journalism?
What is the purpose of C J?
What is the definition on these 2 words?
Citizen
A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.
Oxford Dictionaries (1)
A person who is a member of a state or country and has legal rights there
Cambridge Dictionary (2)
Journalism
The collection, preparation and distribution of news and related commentary and feature materials through such print and electronic media as newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, webcasts, podcasts, social networking and social media sites and email as well as through radio, motion pictures and television.
The word journalism was originally applied to the reportage of current events in printed form, specifically newspapers but with the advent of radio, television and the Internet in the 20th century the use of the term broadened to include all printed and electronic communication dealing with current affairs.
Encyclopaedia Britannica (3)
Purpose of Journalism
News is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing events, issues and characters in the world outside.
Though it may be interesting or even entertaining, the foremost value of news is as a utility to empower the informed.
The purpose of journalism is thus to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies and their governments.
American Press Institute (4)
Definition of Citizen Journalism
The activity of recording or writing about news stories when this is done by ordinary people rather than by trained reporters.
Cambridge Dictionary (5)
The collection, dissemination and analysis of news and information by the general public especially by means of the Internet.
Oxford Dictionaries (6)
CJ is based upon public citizens playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analysing and disseminating news and information.
Reading what the definitions out there are telling us, we could say that a person who is law abiding in their country is what a citizen is.
The journalism bit is reporting through paper, print or electronic
The purpose of journalism is highlighted by the American Press Institute to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies and their governments.
Next – the definition of Citizen Journalism is saying we, the ordinary people – the general public actively collect, inform, record and write news stories, without any formal training that reporters get.
We all know many do this using the Internet as the platform
The author of Simple Living Global has been actively writing and reporting GLOBAL NEWS for one reason – to bring awareness to humanity and that means ALL OF US.
WHY?
Read our end of year news for 2018 and 2019 and we would all need to admit with Honesty that our world is officially in a mess.
If we do not agree or need the proof, then look no further than this monumental website, which is consistently reporting the global stats and facts that tell us – SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT.
To assist and make it easy – check out these articles, which will leave you in no doubt about the state of the world we have created
911 EMERGENCY
2018 News
2019 News
Dear World
Earthquakes
Food Waste
Our World | Our Waste
FOMO
Holidays
Internet
Social Media
Video Games
Anti Depressants
Asthma
Atrial Fibrillation
Cancer
Children’s Mental Health
Depression
Diabetes
Eating Disorders
Fast Food
FGM
Heart
Hypertension
Kidney Disease
Loneliness
Mental Health
Obesity
Oral Health
Politics
Sleep
Stress
Suicide
Trafficking
War
Wellness
Women
Youth
Alcohol
Caffeine
Drug Abuse
E-Cigarettes
Marijuana
Opioids
Spice
Tobacco
1,133 pages
343,271 words
confirming the current state our world is in.
Dear World
Is this enough evidence to confirm that our highly advanced Intelligent world is in a serious mess and we have not managed to find the root cause of our ills?
Have we clocked it yet or are we going to ignore the fact that we – YES WE, each and everyone of us as individuals, have created and contributed to all of this and it is now in our face?
What if the very fact that we created this mess means we must also have the answers to get out of this ugly state?
What if we stopped all research into the next thing and the next thing and used ALL our Intelligentsia and academia and expertise to Focus on one area and not settle until we ALL agree and are unified?
In other words, using a Simple example here –
We work together to find out WHY we have almost a trillion dollar sleeping aids industry and go to the obvious by asking WHY on earth have we not mastered something so basic as SLEEP.
Hello HELLO
If we were from another planet observing our current state of behaviour how would it look, as these are beings calling themselves the most intelligent species, who have no natural rhythm or movement that supports them to live in a way that is part of their evolution.
We have sleep deprived humans leading the way, who rely on stimulants to stay awake during the day to tell others what to do about sleep.
We have exhausted people making policies saying high school students need to go to school at later times as they go to bed late, without ever addressing if this is really the Truth.
We have parents with high Stress levels unable to enforce clear bedtimes for their kids, as their Sleep patterns are all over the place.
We have very young children eating copious amounts of sugar when all they need is sleep.
We have many suffering with insomnia, running big organisations and relying on a modern day drug called Cocaine to drive them to keep going.
We have screen time addiction, yet those in power are powerless as they are not able to make any real change as they do the same – stay up late, using their screen.
We have teachers unable to cope with workloads and Mental Health with Children, as they are not equipped due to their lack of sleep.
We have longer Holidays to help regenerate from loss of sleep but it seems to have the opposite effect, as we need even more sleep.
We have Mistakes being made in the medical world as so many staff are now sleep deprived. (7)
We have Jet Lag because very few truly understand how to prepare the body for long haul flights and time zones.
We have traffic accidents because people are artificially stimulated and not able to focus with the conscious presence needed when driving.
All of the above is what an observer from outside planet Earth would see and this is just about one thing – SLEEP.
ADD to that the list above and we would need to wake up and say – life is not so great, if this is the real state of our world today.
So what has all this got to do with Citizen Journalism one may ask?
Well we have all waited since day dot for those in the world of science to tell us by way of analysed data and more data that we are getting this and that because of this and that.
Example – this and that research studies over a hundred years tells us now that smoking is most certainly not for human consumption and in fact it is killing us. Got that?
So how can Citizen Journalism assist us and give us purpose and some value?
Well hold on to your seats and keep reading – here we go…
It is super Simple
ALL we have to Get on with is saying what we see, clock, observe and register in our daily life.
Report it by way of Expression in the form of writing or talking about it – just put words – and that means be the voice for those of us who need to be informed.
Instead of talking utter nonsense about last night’s reality show – get a conversation going with what is going on
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- in the neighbourhood
- in the community
- in town
- on the bus
- on the train
- on the plane
- in the shops
- in the supermarket
- at the nail salon
- at the hair salon
- at the shopping mall
- at the pharmacy
- in the doctor’s surgery
- at the dentist
- at the airport
- in the diner
- at the fancy restaurant
- at work
- at the station
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In other words – it is time to get Real and get Honest so that we can get to the Truth about what is going on under our nose, so to speak.
Just Talking about what we saw, how it made us feel and what we can do about it or asking what is our Responsibility, could lead to Another Way.
Those of us who are able to report by way of writing, get going like the author of this blog who has dedicated their life to ensuring things are not just left with a nod or shrugging shoulders, but actually expressed by way of commenting.
Citizen Journalism offers us ALL an equal opportunity to have our say and not hold back.
No need to do it for any hidden agenda.
Report the facts, Say it as it is and get Talking.
Get writing as we just need to state what we observe – nothing more and nothing less.
What if we did our bit when it comes to Citizen Journalism?
Could we see real change because we are not relying on the mass media to tell us what happened?
Most of us have no confidence in the media as not everything we read holds the essence of Truth and with Social Media spreading fake news stories, it tells us we have officially Lost the Plot.
Back to Citizen Journalism
Could it be a wake up call in our local community if we just shared what we know is going on, instead of pretending it did not happen?
Could this then lead to the next steps needed, as many would be able to support or use the resources they have to take action or do whatever the call is?
Could it be possible we could respond if we actually felt the call that SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT and we have the answer to DO SOMETHING?
Doing nothing guarantees no change
This blog, this website and every comment thus far posted confirms we need more of this reporting.
Citizen Journalism puts the Responsibility back in our hands and it means we do not have to wait for another scientific research study to tell us what common sense has already told us.
References
(1) (n.d). Lexico. Retrieved January 11, 2020 from
https://www.lexico.com/definition/citizen
(2) (n.d). Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved January 11, 2020 from
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/citizen
(3) (n.d). Journalism. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved January 11, 2020 from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/journalism
(4) (n.d). What is the Purpose of Journalism? American Press Institute. Retrieved January 11, 2020 from
https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/journalism-essentials/what-is-journalism/purpose-journalism/
(5) (n.d). Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved January 11, 2020 from
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/citizen-journalism
(6) (n.d). Lexico. Retrieved January 11, 2020 from
https://www.lexico.com/definition/citizen_journalism
(7) Forrest, A. (2019, May 8). Overtired GPs Openly Making Mistakes as New Research Reveals Doctors See More Patients Than is Safe. Independent. Retrieved January 15, 2020 from
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/gps-doctors-tired-overworked-mistakes-nhs-poll-pulse-panorama-a8903711.html
Comments 7
BBC News – 27 May 2018
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44271647
Busking goes cashless with “a world first” for London.
London has introduced a contactless payment scheme for buskers in what organisers claim as the world’s first.
In addition to loose change into a box, passers-by can use card readers and make contactless payments.
After successful trials, the scheme is to be rolled out across the city and a full time busker said after the 2 weeks trial “it had a significant impact on contributions”.
The card readers, which plug into smartphones and other devices allow tap-to-donate fixed payments.
Using card readers for online payments is becoming increasingly popular among small traders and charities who cannot afford the infrastructure traditionally used for credit card payments.
It is a New Year – so what has changed and what is going on Dear World?
As a Citizen that uses public transport a lot, I get to see and hear what is going on.
There is so much to report and we are all journalists because we do clock things, even if we say nothing or never share.
I have a habit of talking to people and actually having a conversation.
Of course, I discern and do not just approach or go out of my way to talk.
People appear and it may be for a brief moment at the bus stop or it could be a long train journey.
Then there are the places I visit and engage with others who openly share what is going on and it really is worth reporting – see next post.
With most of us we simply do not have the time or can’t be bothered to report.
What I have realised recently is the fact of expressing, typing the words and posting the comment can and will do something, even if I am not aware of the full potential.
Saying nothing, doing nothing and demanding or expecting change is purposeless.
What if by posting what is going on it brings more awareness so others know this is happening in our world.
We seem to have an inbuilt radar that wants to step away or turn our head like it’s not happening, its not going on but it really IS.
Visiting a small local supermarket, I was given 2 receipts.
I realised that one was from the previous customer and I ask WHY have I received this?
In my world and how I operate I do not see this as an error.
It has landed in my hands for a reason and let me expand on this…
4 Lottery tickets at £10 each.
£40 cash paid.
The receipt will be archived in the Simple Living Global library for future evidence as that way it cannot be negated.
For those that need a sharp wake up call, this was a guy that could barely afford food.
His clothes, lack of grooming and general posture spoke volumes. I do not need an expert to tell me otherwise. This is simply observing, with no judgement or critique.
How do we get hooked into buying or shall we correctly say “gambling” money that we cannot afford, to spend on a wishful, fantasy driven illusion; as that is what it is.
How do we lose our personal responsibility when it comes to wild wayward irresponsible purchases like this?
WHY would the shops promote and foster such activities unless there was such a demand?
Who picks up the slack if this guy goes homeless, needs social care or requires support from the health system in the days, months or years to come?
What we all know is that this was not a one–off flutter on the lotto numbers.
Have we ever considered that buying lottery tickets every week is not just a habit or a hobby but an addiction?
What if we realised that certain brain receptors ignite at the very thought of us imagining or thinking about winning the millions.
Is this the hit that we seek and want more of?
I was visiting the largest supermarket chain in the UK.
The one shop that sells everything and yet the long queues remain as only 2 cashiers, because the robot tills are taking over.
The choice was over an hour waiting or have a go at joining the self scan.
Who designed these check out stations, as there is no human around and the space which is weight sensitive to put your goods after scanning the machine is extremely small.
Customer before had a huge trolley and it was stupid to even think she was going to get it all on but she insisted and then eventually was stopped as there was physically no more that could be added and her trolley remained full.
There was the other section of self–serve with a bigger space but the queues were even longer.
Hello
It is a mid Monday morning in January and the Christmas shopping frenzy experienced the weeks before is over.
Was it really the free car parking that pulls people here or something else?
Why so many people having to queue?
I chose this particular time as generally there are less people and I was driving and was doing a 2 monthly shop for cleaning products and other household essentials, not food.
Speaking to a cashier she told me that they plan to automate all tills and they have stopped the overtime as it’s all about money and profits.
She had been there for over 30 years and said she will not lose her job because she has to supervise the automated till customers. She clearly does not like it.
I asked her why she was eating crisps, standing up and helping customers, all at once? Her response was because she has recently been diagnosed with Diabetes and prior to that she was told she has Thyroid and is also on medication for High Blood Pressure.
She explained that she missed her break as they are so busy and it will be another 5 hours before she can go on her next break.
What I realised was she and many many others of the older staff who I have known over the years are used to sitting down at the till and now to make them stand all day with no fitness as such will be difficult.
She mentioned she was rushing around before she started work as her jobs to cook and clean at home had to be done.
I talked about her taking more care of herself and not putting her family first, which is the typical Indian thing. I know as I was born and raised in this way.
Over the years it becomes standard as the majority of women end up with symptoms that could be avoided if they took more care of their body.
I also noticed her breathing was like she was panicking and of course she was as she had to eat the crisps fast, hope her seniors were not watching and continue to deal with the endless calls from customers as none of the tills were operating with the flow and efficiency as they do when a human response is there.
She told me the crisps are for the Diabetes as she is convinced she has to eat and it has no sugar.
Are we aware what a packet of crisps is doing to our body when we consume it?
Talking to a guy in a local business who tells me he has had 3 hours sleep.
It’s a weekday so most of us assume we leave alcohol to the weekends.
He said an old friend came over to see him unexpected in the evening.
They drank 2 bottles of vodka and he went to sleep around 3am and had to be up for work at 6am.
I did know that he drinks every evening as he says that without the ‘spirits’ he cannot sleep and he knows he has to sleep.
What on earth is going on if we need a bottle of vodka every night to fall asleep?
How many of us right now are simply ‘functioning’ and going to work because we have to and do we really think we can sustain this?
This guy is really amazing and his skills are why this particular business is always busy. Those that own the business say nothing but they know.
There is nothing I can do but I know this article inspires me to just write and say it.
I am reporting this so it is out there.
This is not an isolated, one–off scenario or case study.
This is happening and going on everywhere in our world.
Travelling on a Friday train underground across the city.
Almost every person was in some form of trainers or plimsols but many were in the latest platform trainers.
Office workers, some in transport uniform, teenagers and the glam ones with gold laces or patterns on the trainers. This is the new normal and it is now rare to see actual shoes or smart shoes worn.
Fine dining restaurant, I was watching the ladies and smartly dressed gentlemen going to the theatre as that is very obvious in this area and ALL had trainers on. Some were dirty and did not match the rest of the attire.
Talked to a woman in “management” in the health service and I noted her off white very old trainers with the dress and jacket.
Earlier in the week at a local business –
A young woman shared her wedding photos but emphasised this was the ‘first little wedding’ and the ‘big wedding’ is in a few months because she has to travel to her country and get an even bigger fairytale dress.
She wants 2 weddings as she feels she deserves it because her first one failed.
She is aged 22 and stopped working for 6 months as she had “stress” but has now returned but may not come back after her second wedding.
Her fairytale dress was from a Disney movie for sure and the groom had trainers on!
I asked is that normal that the bride dresses over the top and the groom is in casual footwear and jeans but another colour (beige), with a shirt and no jacket.
“Oh yeah, that’s normal”.
Visiting a country farm café that does the home–made style breakfast and lunches.
I went through the big area which was so full of people with young children on a late Saturday morning.
I stopped to talk to a bouncing baby in a high chair barely able to sit up.
His meal was a large portion of cake. Both parents on either side had the triple layer cakes that I did notice as you enter where the staff serve coffees.
Having visited this venue for the past 2 decades, it has really grown in size and expanded to accommodate the demand. It matters not what time of year, this place brings in consistent traffic.
What I realised is if we start feeding a very young toddler in nappies this amount of sugar, then where is this going, knowing that more children are facing Obesity at younger ages than ever before?
And why stop at Obesity as we know Type 2 Diabetes is also very possible.
It would be true to report that the cohort were locals and wealthy and it matters not what prices they charge, which are high but everyone just pays, no question.
This is not a one–off news report about a café in England, it is everywhere as I have seen it and clocked the level of sugar consumption now that keeps on increasing in our local cafes and coffee shops. It is booming business.