Empowering the youth as citizen journalists: A South African experience 1

Abstract

Seldom unpacked in the notion of ‘citizen journalism’ is its difference to ‘citizen media’ and ‘alternative journalism’, and the same applies to the convergence of ‘citizenship’ and ‘journalism’. This article examines these issues in general and in the light of experience at Grocott’s Mail newspaper in South Africa, which operates a project to encourage youth participation in media. The first phase of this initiative (2008–2009) highlighted how specifically mobile ‘citizen journalism’ raises issues about the meanings of journalism, citizenship, identity and a local public sphere, especially in a developing country context.

Keywords

alternative journalism cellphone journalism citizen journalism citizen media citizenship hyperlocal journalism identity mobile journalism South Africa youth

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