Citizen Journalism and the Rebirth of Democracy

As we continue to move into a user-led future, it appears that democratic processes, which have for long been on the decline, may be revitalised through the produsage process and citizen journalism. By allowing for the greater participation of citizens and collaborative projects, the information-age is resurrecting “democratic processes by levelling the roles and turning citizens into active produsers of democracy once again” (Bruns(1), p6).

Running parallel to the concept of produsage and the produser is citizen journalism. Acting as a kind of ‘collaborative filter’, citizen journalism builds on, critiques, analyses and debates the reports and information presented by mainstream journalistic news organizations (Bruns(1), p2). After sifting through the large quantities of available online information, produsers identify the most important, appropriate or practical information for their purpose (or their online community’s purpose) (Bruns(1), p2). As a result, citizens are more informed and have greater control over the type of information they choose to consume.

Furthermore, the rise of networked media has enabled consumers to more readily engage with and respond to content concerning politics. Consequently, politics has begun “shifting from an industrial production to an informational produsage model” (Bruns(2), p9). The traditional model of politics in which politicians, media advisors and journalists produced political content and then distributed it to the masses through different media outlets “is no longer sustainable” (Bruns(2), p9). Audiences in the information-age demand the right to actively participate beyond the ballot box in their country’s own politics.

This demand has become visible in the “increasing role of blogs and citizen journalism in recent US elections” (Bruns(1), p6). 2004 Democrat candidate, Howard Dean, generated a considerable public following during the US primary elections through his blog campaign. Supporters of Dean prodused the campaign blog as much as media advisors produced it (Bruns(2), p9). This clearly illustrates the potential and growing ability of produsage as a means of challenging traditional politics models and revitalising democratic processes.

Similarly, traditional consumers have taken a more active approach in networked environments through their opposition to the war in Iraq and their positive response to online charity appeals like ‘Make Poverty History’ (Bruns(2), p9). According to Bruns, “… this newfound enthusiasm for making an active contribution to the common good can also translate to a reinvigoration of political processes” (Bruns(2), p9).

With public participation and collaborative projects continuing to grow in the informational-age, citizens now have a greater capability to exercise their democratic freedom and contribute more than ever to politics in their country.

References
(1)Bruns, Dr Axel. "Produsage: Towards a Broader Framework for User-Led Content Creation". (http://produsage.org/files/Produsage%20(Creativity%20and%20Cognition%202007).pdf). (pp.1 – 6).

(2) Bruns, Dr Axel. "The Future Is User-Led: The Path towards Widespread Produsage." (http://produsage.org/files/The%20Future%20Is%20User-Led%20(PerthDAC%202007).pdf (pp.1 – 9).