Citizen Journalism & Public Opinion
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CPSI WP 2.3 University of Kent SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME Theme 10 – SECURITY , Collaborative Project CPSI Changing Perceptions of Security and Interventions (CPSI) Grant agreement no.: 217881 Contact person EC: Julien Giordani 1 partners University of Kent 2 3 4 5 Deliverable N°: WP 2.3 Title : Citizen Journalism & Public Opinion Due date: 30 November 2009 Delivered date: 1 CPSI WP 2.3 University of Kent CPSI: Deliverable – WP 2.3 Citizen Journalism & Public Opinion Hayley Watson & Frank Furedi University of Kent 2 CPSI WP 2.3 University of Kent Contents News Media & Public Opinion ................................................................................................................ 7 The New Media ..................................................................................................................................... 11 The Internet & Public Opinion .............................................................................................................. 19 Public Interaction with the Internet ................................................................................................. 21 The Expansion of Citizen Journalism ................................................................................................. 23 The Blogosphere: .............................................................................................................................. 26 The Rise of Social Networking & the Power of the ‘Tweet’: ............................................................. 29 Case Studies: Blogging & Public Opinion .............................................................................................. 32 Case Study 1: Germany School Shooting - March 2009 .................................................................... 34 Case Study 2: Italy Earthquake – April 2009 ..................................................................................... 36 Case Study 3: Holland Queen’s Day - April 2009 .............................................................................. 38 Case Study 4: Swine flu Outbreak - May 2009 .................................................................................. 40 Case Study 5: Missing Air France Place - June 2009 ......................................................................... 43 In-Depth: Citizen Journalism during 7/7 & Public Opinion ............................................................... 45 Discussion of Case Studies: ................................................................................................................... 51 Conclusion: ............................................................................................................................................ 58 Appendix A: 7/7 Blogs ........................................................................................................................... 66 Bibliography: ......................................................................................................................................... 71 3 CPSI WP 2.3 University of Kent Abstract: This report ‘Citizen Journalism and Public Opinion’ has been written as part of Work Package 2.3, a sociological analysis of Public Opinion of Security, for the ‘Changing Perceptions of Security and Interventions’ (CPSI) research project. It aims to explore the process through which Citizen Journalists using new forms of media attempt to play a role in influencing public opinion of security. Morphological Analysis on determinants of Public Opinion of Security was conducted in June 2009, aimed at developing a framework for influences on public opinion. Following the Morphological Analysis workshop it was hypothesised that new forms of media, particularly those associated with social media, may play a role in influencing public opinion of security-related issues in Europe. The issues raised at this workshop pointed towards the need to assess the role of the new media in the constitution of EU public opinion on security-related issues. This report focuses on the emerging influence of Citizen Journalists (self-publication of news by members of the public) and considers their influence on the public opinion of security in Europe. This report analyses the changing media landscape in Europe. The use of the Internet by EU citizens is increasing and Europeans have been found to spend an increasing proportion of their life online. There is also a growth of Europeans’ use of social media, such as blogs (In the global report on blogging by Technorati, Europeans’ use of blogs accounted for 27%). Blogs were found to be direct platforms for communicating and producing Citizen Journalism. To capture the workings of Citizen Journalism, we examined a number of recent European case studies of security-related events. Examples include the Germany school shootings, the Italian earthquake, Holland’s Queen’s Day, the swine flu epidemic, the missing Air France plane and an in-depth sociological account of Citizen Journalism during the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. Our analysis suggests that new sources of media give a voice to both members of the public and officials. Nevertheless, Citizen Journalism was predominantly found to reinforce the agenda set by the mass media. The key challenges that may result from Citizen Journalism reports of security- related events are the segmentation of communication and spread of rumours and conspiracy theories. Since the CPSI project started, public experience and interaction with new forms of media have significantly changed, and now play a significant role in influencing public opinion and perceptions of security. 4 CPSI WP 2.3 University of Kent Executive Summary 1. In Europe Citizen Journalism represents an important and growing medium of communication influencing public opinion of security-related issues. 2. New forms of media represent a challenge to policy makers as audience viewing habits are changing. Individuals no longer look for news; instead they expect news to come to them. It is the recommendation of this report that those concerned with public opinion of security need to develop tools that engage with new forms of media. 3. Citizen Journalists play a role in the agenda-setting function of the news media, which can influence public opinion of security-related issues. 4. The character of the European media landscape is continually evolving as a result of the emergence of the Internet. 5. Significant changes have occurred between the media and the audience. The audience are now actively involved in the news-making process. 6. Individuals are increasingly using blogs and other social media such as Twitter. 27% of Europeans use blogs. Blogging of European events is gaining prominence in the blogosphere – with 0 blog posts concerning the Madrid terror attacks in 2004, to 223 blog posts on the London bombings of 2005 to 400 blogs posts following the earthquake in Italy in April 2009. 7. Blogs mostly repeat news media reporting of events. Bloggers can be seen to reinforce the agenda set by the news media. The publication of new information regarding events is limited. Following the 7/7 London bombings, only 11% of blog posts contained personal accounts whilst 38% referred to ‘other’ news media articles. 8. A symbiotic relationship exists between the news media and new forms of media. 9. Citizen Journalism promotes the spread of rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding an event – this has the potential for insecurity in society. 10. Citizen Journalism promotes the spread of rumours and the expansion of the media has the potential to result in more segmented audiences. There is no longer a single ‘mass media’. Instead audiences are subjected to a range of ‘media’, which may intensify perceptions of miscommunication and public insecurity. 5 CPSI WP 2.3 University of Kent Citizen Journalism & Public Opinion In 1922, far before advances in technology and the widespread availability of media, Walter Lippmann (2008) argued that people’s knowledge about the world comes from the media rather than an individual’s direct experience. “We shall assume that what each man does is based not on direct and certain knowledge, but on pictures made by himself or given to him.” (Lippmann, 2008, p. 28) Individuals’ opinions of security threats stem not solely from direct exposure and experience of the threat, but more often than not from our exposure via the mass media. Since 1922, the spectrum of media available to audiences has dramatically expanded beyond the daily newspaper. This echoes assertions by Marshall McLuhan, who in 1964 argued that the medium is the message. “In a culture like ours, long accustomed to splitting and dividing all things as a means of control, it is sometimes a bit of a shock to be reminded that, in operational and practical fact, the medium is the message. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium – that is, of any extension of ourselves – result from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology.” (McLuhan, 1964 (2008), p. 7) Over time, the range and types of media available to individuals has expanded - from radio to television to the Internet. In addition, individuals can now update themselves on the news at the touch of a button. Today mobile phone technology, Netbooks and laptops, to name but a few, allow individuals to access the news as it is reported. Never before has the world been subjected to such an easily-accessible and instant news service.