Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10321/3584
Title: How citizen camera-witnessing has been incorporated by Health-e : an investigation into the integration of citizen generated news into the traditional news cycle
Authors: Cross, Sheetal 
Keywords: Traditional media;Non-traditional Media;Media Convergence;Citizen Journalism;Citizen Camera-Witnesses;Mobile Technologies;WiFi;Media Synchronicity Theory;Media Richness Theory;Information and Communications Technologies;Mobile Journalism (MOJO)
Issue Date: Apr-2019
Abstract: 
Recent rapid technological development has driven mass communication growth
through the use of digital and social media platforms. Easier global new access has
resulted in a multitude of changes within the media industry. These extend to
include the influence of traditional media houses over the communication agenda
as well as the manner in which news is produced, disseminated, and consumed.
The historic relationship between news media and its audience was a one-way
communication stream. However, evolving trends in technology and digital
influence has prompted a paradigm shift in favour of a more interactive
communication model. In this context, the audience is provided with the opportunity
to respond to news information in real-time in an online space. The rise of mobile
journalism has also promoted greater access to information with a shorter
turnaround time for exposure. This expedition of media sharing has led to an influx
of information access not previously afforded to the ordinary citizen. Through the
influence of information and communications technologies (ICTs), the audience is
no longer merely a consumer of news, but participates actively in the process of
news gathering, dissemination, promotion, and consumption. The rise of
technologies that support audience participation ushered in the emergence of
citizen journalism and citizen camera-witnessing as a phenomenon that challenges
several conventions inherent to traditional methods of media reporting.
However, little is known about how such developments have affected the manner
in which news is produced and consumed in the South African setting. Therefore, a
need has arisen to understand how citizen journalism and citizen camerawitnessing have been incorporated as part of the news reporting cycle in the local
environment. In response to this research challenge, a qualitative interpretivist
study was undertaken to explore how citizen journalism and citizen camerawitnessing have been incorporated by Health-e as part of the news cycle in South
Africa. Toward this end, thematic analysis, guided by the Media Synchronicity
Theory as a theoretical lens, was performed on the qualitative data obtained from
the semi-structured interviews that were conducted with management and staff
members at a local organisation named Health-e News. In conclusion, this study provided novel evidence on how (such) changes have
been incorporated into a more formal setting within the media industry, where
traditional journalists and citizen journalists are employed in a more collaborative
partnership. In addition, this study observed the news media watchdog element
regarding government regulations where health is concerned, and regarding some
of the challenges that arose when news coverage on serious health crises were left
uncovered.
Description: 
Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Information and Communications Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2021.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10321/3584
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51415/10321/3584
Appears in Collections:Theses and dissertations (Arts and Design)

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