Piaras Kelly PR – Public Relations in Ireland

There is an ongoing debate about the merits of traditional media and citizen journalism. There are journalists who say that citizen journalists are biaised and ignorant, and there are those who pen blogs and podcasts who say that they have better subject knowledge than journalists and are more passionate when reporting about events which effect them.

There are a number of crucial points worth remembering. By and large, journalists proved a balanced account of events and check their facts, whereas citizen journalists pride themselves on being able to be the first person to announce something, but the sense of immediacy can lead them to overlook key facts.

More importantly, there seems to be some unwritten law governing blogs and other Social Media tools, that to be honest at times seem like they are made up on the spot. Simple things like asking people for permission to post something about someone’s personal life or even editing posts after a mistake has been acknowledged or an objection was raised are often overlooked. There is a real danger that we will turn into amateur paperazzi and give critics of Social Media reason to gloat.

Journalists may not have the time or passion that afforded to citizen journalists, but we have both of those in spades, so think before you speak. The news in today’s papers will line tomorrow’s rubbish bins, but what is published on the Internet lives on in Google forever!

Here are some other posts which I think are relevant to the subject:

• A post for the unwashed – PR Opinions
• I found it on the Internet so it must be true (again) – Media Orchard
• Slugger in Irish Times – IrishEyes
• A visit from the ghost of Christmas future – PR Opinions
• 10 Journalism tips for bloggers – BrandToBeDetermined

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