Ethics in Citizen Journalism

The advent of internet and mobile technology brought in a sea change in the operations and functions of Media, slowly but steadily it witnessed significant changes over the years creating a platform and access to quick and speedy information across the globe. Slowing but steadily a virtual digital world was created without any boundaries or limitations backed up by technology creating a new platform for social interaction among people to share or exchange information, ideas, views, news and much more through Virtual communities and networks termed as Social Media. Thus Social media gained enormous popularity and inroads in main Stream or traditional media with Micro-blogging, web-blogging, Citizen Journalism and so on. Today the potential benefits of citizen journalism as a source for quick news updates are widely acknowledged by all media professionals and Institutes, as result many mainstream media institutions are partnering with them. The paper analyzes the ethical issues involved in citizen journalism as it overlaps with many ethical aspects of Journalism. In view of the fact that Firstly there are no specific media laws or editorial ethics in place for Citizen Journalists unlike journalists in the traditional media. Secondly Citizen Journalists do not adhere to any norms or governing body and thirdly given the instantaneous nature of the Internet and its fast potential global reach its power, impact and effect to pose political and social upheaval in the society at times of social unrest.