Introduction
Along with the rise of the internet and social media, a new breed of journalism was also established. The access of the average person to public communication channels through the internet gave different groups and sectors the opportunity to participate in shaping the news and public opinion as well. This shift from the traditional journalism and information dissemination to a more participatory approach received both positive and negative sentiments, which revolved around social awareness and the responsible use of media.
History of Access to Public Communication Channels
Access to public communication channels before was limited to a few groups of people who have the money, power, and education. Information and the news was controlled and filtered by the privileged elites with the professional journalists. However, the internet has changed this one-way information dissemination to a more democratic approach by involving the audience or the average person in collecting information and even creating the information content. Social media such as facebook and twitter has allowed the public to post information and news reports sometimes faster than professional journalists do. Also, the increasing importance of new technologies in our lives and the rise of globalization which demands for faster information has fueled the access and use of public communication channels by various groups and sectors. In fact, modern news agencies and organization use video tapes, tips, and news reports that come from the public whom they tag as citizen journalists (Townson, 2013).
Positive Impacts of the Access to Public Communication Channels
The access of various groups and individuals to public communication channels, especially the internet has helped the information creation and dissemination in three ways – it aids in covering news and areas that the mainstream media miss, provides a different perspective from the mass media, and engages the people to express their opinions and engage in issues which have impacts on their lives.
Although mass media have a wide coverage of the news with their provincial bureaus and local arms, the participation of the public in creating and adding to the news content has definitely widened the area, data, and information covered in public communication channels. The access of various groups and individuals to public information channels has added to news content, particularly in information about typhoons in their localities, new discoveries, and other local news. Aside from having a wider coverage, public access to communication channels provide variety to the information and news shown in the television, radio, internet, newspaper, and the like. It adds color and a sense of relevance since the information is more “local.”
Aside from wider coverage and variety, the access to public communication channels also provides the community different perspectives on issues. Since different groups and individuals can participate in creating content, they can express their opinions and suggestions on relevant issues in the community. Contrary to the traditional information dissemination and journalism, public participation helps in having diversity in public communication channels that often have the greatest impacts in molding public opinion. It provides greater look on issues through airing different sides from which the public can based their perceptions and decisions, especially on important issues in society.
Another positive impact of a democratic mass media is encouraging public engagement in national and local concerns that affect society. Aside from the providing a sense of relevance through localizing the news and information, allowing groups and individuals to be involved in public communication channels provides a sense of responsibility to be aware of the current problems and events around the community. It encourages people to be vigilant about social happenings and problems that society might face.
Negative Impacts of the Access to Public Communication Channels
Despite the paradigm shift and positive effects, the rise of citizen journalism and increasing access of the various groups and individuals to public communication channels also have its negative impacts particularly on ethical responsibility, objectivity, and professionalism.
The first issue that public access to communication channels face is the concern on ethical responsibility. Since the groups and individuals who post, disseminate, and sometimes create information come from different walks of life and with no professional training, the ethical responsibility in the media is often overlooked. Sometimes people tend to forget that public communication channels such as the television, radio, and especially the internet is opened for all people of all ages. In most cases, information from the public posted or shown in mass media channels are unfiltered and can contain too explicit contents that are not appropriate for some audiences. In addition, the common people’s ignorance of media ethics leads to the violation of rights such as showing picture and videos of children, victims of rape in public, and other persons without their consent (Zuberi, 2014).
Professional journalists also criticized citizen journalism and the access of various groups and individuals to public communication channels for the lack of objectivity. Most professional journalist argue that the average person lacks the training to look at information and the news in an objective manner. This thinking came from a positivist perspective from which many modern western journalists based their opinions on journalism. Some may argue that absolute objectivity cannot be attained in the field of journalism, because everyone has their own biases, and at some point, these biases may intentionally or unintentionally manifest. However, journalists still argue that there is a certain level of professional objectivity that requires the journalist to remove personal opinions in creating and delivering news content. This professional objectivity, which most claim that untrained people lack, plays a vital role in democracy and disseminating true and unbiased information to the public.
In connection with the first two arguments of the negative effects of access of various groups and individuals to public communication channels is the concept of professionalism. This concept is what often delineates the professional journalists and the common or citizen journalists. However, the wide spread and influence of citizen journalism and access of various groups and individuals to public communication channels have led to the blurring lines between professional and citizen journalism and information dissemination in the mass media. This phenomenon threatens professionalism in such ways as ignoring ethical guidelines and standards, violating rights, and most especially unreliable and unverifiable sources of information and news which can lead to misinformation. The failure to recognize and comply with the professional standards risks the reliability, ethicality and credibility of information which can lead to misinformed public and wrong decisions.
Conclusion
The open nature of public communication channels in this time of technology and globalization can serve important roles, particularly in delivering fast and accurate information. However, the media and the public must remain vigilant for ethical and credible information. There should be a balance between presenting variety and diversity of perspectives and the preserving ethical responsibility, objectivity, and professionalism.
References
Townson, P. (2013, February 24). Blurring the lines between professional and citizen journalism. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from http://www.dc4mf.org/en/content/blurring-lines-between-professional-and-citizen-journalism-0
Zuberi, H. (2014, October 13). Citizen journalism: Ethics and responsibilities. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141013132515-934171-citizen-journalism-ethics-and-responsibilities
