User Generated Content and Journalistic Values

Abstract

Mainstream media are increasingly appropriating citizen journalism content-broadly encapsulated under the umbrella of “user-generated content” (UGC)-in part to avoid perceptually undermining traditional journalism’s occupational values. Singer and Ashman (Chapter 19) pick up on this tension from the perspective of “journalists at Britain’s Guardian newspaper and its internationally popular website,” exploring how journalism practice is changing as it is forced to accommodate content from-and interaction with-its audience. Journalists’ responses are positioned in relation to traditional occupational values of authenticity, autonomy, and accountability. While “user-generated content” and audience interaction are cautiously embraced, journalists remain wary of the challenges inherent in negotiating new relationships with citizen
contributors.