Citizen Journalism: An Intensive Look

Media platforms in Facebook. Fishing for comments?

Is Citizen Journalism an empowering tool or a forum for divisive talk and political tirades?

I am forced to ponder this question after observing my fellow participants in various citizen journalism groups in Facebook. I’ve been a member of TV5’s TEN: The Evening News Facebook group, and now of GMA News’ Facebook page, where ordinary Filipinos can comment and give their views about current national and international issues, as well as report on news events unfolding in their own neighborhood.

I am a person who is always thrilled with the experience of debate and exchanging ideas and convictions with other, especially in person. But Facebook is a different playing field. In these forums, there are no moderators, no time limits, and no control. I should have expected that people will always be the worst versions of themselves in this kind of environment, but somehow my naive faith that people will be decent participants prevailed. I was proven wrong.

PeaceTech: Waging Peace Through Technology

In this little corner of the world called the Philippines, a lot of wars have been waged. Since time immemorial, Filipinos have witnessed the blood of its own people being shed for the wrong reasons. Brother going against brother just because of differences in the way they see the world, because of differences in faith, because of different ways of life. With this blood shed, a lot was lost. We saw mothers losing husbands, sons, and daughters. We saw children losing memories of what could’ve been a pleasant and sunny childhood.

In this little corner of the world, a lot has imagined. What if we could stop this blood shed for good? What if people weren’t bound by their allegiances and creeds? What if people treated each other as equals in the eyes of God – as human beings? A lot has tried to put their imagination in reality but never to a lasting extent.