U.S. Citizens Are Journalists

Abstract

Citizen reporters do not receive the credit they deserve for their service, or the rightful protections granted to them by the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to free press. Citizen journalism is not new in America, but newer technologies have brought attention to its cause. Today, almost everyone owns a cell phone or other form of digital media capable of taking professional quality pictures and video. These personal “mobile studios” coupled with the World Wide Web has led to an explosion of civic journalism via social media and blogging. This new landscape in a post WikiLeaks world makes one wonder just who has the right to free press. Currently, forty states have media shield laws which offer journalists some protections from being forced to reveal sources and testify and in court, but no federal law was in place. The Free Flow of Information Act is a bill that could offer some federal protections, yet its definitions of who exactly a journalist is are restrictive and troubling. For example, SEC. 4 DEFINITIONS, (2) defines a covered journalist as “a person who, for financial gain or livelihood, is engaged in journalism”. This definition leaves out self-bloggers and other “accidental journalists” who do not get paid, yet still make newsworthy reports via a World Wide Web which is owned by no one. This paper will illustrate that America protects the acts of journalism – not journalists and that the world needs their contributions.

Freedom of the Press

When the First Amendment guaranteed the right to free press its framers did not intend that it apply only to those who could afford one (Liebling). Free press meant the full separation of government and communications as the wall separates church and state. America’s forefathers recognized that the only way to achieve a democratic and open society was to not restrict any communication between its citizens. The Free Flow of Information Act actually restricts the flow of information because it only protects a select few in acquiring, publishing, and broadcasting it. Some may argue that only professional journalists should be allowed special privileges with their sources as in doctor/patient, priest/parishioner, or attorney/client. There are several problems with this. First, anyone has the capability to be a reporter. Although it helps, it is not required by law that one have a degree in broadcasting, journalism, or professional photography in order to be hired by an agency disseminating the news. Second, doctors, priests, and attorneys observe special oaths which journalists do not. Third, you can choose your own doctor, priest, or attorney from thousands – but only 6 media conglomerates own 90% of the media in America (Lutz). Therefore, if a source does not trust these six mega corporations with a story they will not receive any protections from a citizen journalist of their own choice. Finally, the aforementioned professions all have duties and obligations to serve only one person – a journalist has a duty to serve the public interest.

Citizen Reporters

Citizen reporters deserve protection because they are best qualified to preserve the integrity of human events. It is not possible for corporate news reporters to be everywhere at all times ready and able to cover something newsworthy. Nor can they rival the scope of reporting by on site citizen eye witnesses. To illustrate these points, the following examples not only demonstrate how amateur material is vital, but superior to professional journalists. When a news crew was absent on Elm Street it was amateur photographer Abraham Zapruder who arguably filmed the most famous footage in history – the assassination of John F. Kennedy. When attacks occurred such as 9/11 and the 2013 Boston bombing, bystander cell phone pictures/video is unparalleled in their depictions of the mayhem, bravery, and anguish. When natural disasters hit such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami, the regions inhabitants and vacationers captured and blogged the devastation and effects on human life. Notably, this information was then sought after by corporate media who was only able to cover the rescue efforts (Allan, Prasun, and Carter, 374-5). In times of global conflict and civil unrest, military personnel and civilians are often the only ones present to chronicle war crimes and human rights violations. For example, thanks to cell phones leaders such as Syrian President Bashar cannot hide the choking to death of 1,429 people including 426 children from the worlds eyes. It is easy to imagine the endless possibilities and access citizen journalists have which literally give them the power alone to create a transparent world. These citizens do not make a living off of journalism as the The Free Flow of Information Act requires, but their contributions to society and the truth are priceless nonetheless.

Conclusion

Thomas Jefferson – one of the greatest human rights authors in history – mentored James Madison and encouraged him to write the First Amendment. Jefferson once stated that a democracy cannot be both ignorant and free. Only citizens hold the power to destroy all ignorance and fulfill the truth of that statement. Interestingly, Jefferson was also a huge critic of corporate media. In a 1807 letter to John Norwell he once referred to it as money for lies and a “polluted vehicle” because truth is known only to those “who are in situations to confront facts”. Therefore, corporate news media and weak bills must stop standing in the way of citizen journalists who serve the good of humanity, ensure democracy, and are superior at reporting the news.

Works Cited

Allan, Stuart., Sonwalker, Prasun & Carter, Cynthia. Bearing Witness: Citizen Journalism and Human Rights Issues. Globalism, Societies, and Education, 5, No. 3, November 2007, pp. 373389. Print.

Liebling, Albert. Do You Belong in Journalism. The New Yorker. May 4, 1960. Print. Quote: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one”.

Lovell v. City of Griffin. 303 U.S. 444, 1938. Print.

Lutz, Ashley. These 6 Corporations own 90% of the Media in America. Business Insider, June 14, 1012. Retrieved fromhttp://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6

United States Government. Library of Congress. S. 987: Free Flow of Information Act of 2013. Print.

Unites States Government. Library of Congress. Thomas Jefferson to John Norwell, June 11, 1807. The Thomas Jefferson Papers. The Works of Thomas Jefferson in Twelve Volumes. Federal Edition. Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford.