1-11-2025 6:58pm

Peering Down their Noses: Established Media Continues in an Attempt to Discredit Musk, Zuckerberg and Citizen Journalism

Chris Edwards Editor

The election of Donald J Trump and the power and influence of social media and its role in the sphere of a free press and First Amendment rights is all the talk these days.

Those within the established press peer down their noses at citizen journalists, whimper that they don't have the skills of "serious journalist" and then jump at the first slight or error and scream these citizen journalists are amateurs. The screams of course are from those that have not adapted to a modern world of social media independence which has transformed the way the public digests information.

The so called "professionals" have forgotten the teachings from their early journalism classes of how journalism in America even came to be. It began as citizen journalists during the colonial days. The first "professional" journalism school opened in the Unites States in 1908 at the University of Missouri.

Modern citizen journalisms birth is often attributed to South Korea where the first platform of amateur generated information, OhMyNews, was created.

As Tate.org explains the principle was simple; anyone can take part in the process of creating information - as the notion of participatory journalism (another term for citizen journalism) implies. From reader to participant, citizens have now changed their status as a mere recipients of information, to providers.

As the public has lost trust in mainstream media and mainstream journalists the internet and social media networks such a Twitter X and Facebook has democratized media which many educates elites and these so called "professionals" despise.

In the beginning of the American experience Penny press newspapers were cheap, tabloid-style newspapers mass-produced in the United States from the 1830s onwards. Mass production of inexpensive newspapers became possible following the shift from hand-crafted to steam-powered print, or a technology evolved. That same shift is happening today as technology evolves more citizen journalists are now again joining thr frey just as it began. Famous for costing one cent (equivalent to $0.35 in 2025) while other newspapers cost around six cents, penny press papers were revolutionary in making the news accessible to middle class citizens for a reasonable price.

Today, the media world has changed and a majority of those in print media work for one of 6 companies. Just about 40 years ago, there were 50 companies in charge of most American media. Now, 90% of the media in the United States is controlled by just six corporations: AT&T, CBS, Comcast, Disney, Newscorp and Viacom. This means that just 232 media executives are calling the shots for the vast majority of the information we are presented with, controlling a total Big Six net worth of over $430 billion.

The fact is is that when six corporations, whose primary motivations are to ultimately profit as much as possible, are in charge of what we consume, the narratives do not challenge the status quo in the ways that could inspire large-scale change and don't engage in local indepth coverage.

Now thousands of news deserts exist in the United States especially in rural communities, Alamogordo New Mexico is a prime example of one such news desert and the void is now filled with citizen journalism platforms that are hosted and the information spread via social media platforms for a wider audience.

Traditional journalists hate this evolution. While pushing out their single story of the day and being paid minimal wages averaging $17.99 per hour, citizen journalists are mastering monetizing their efforts via X, Facebook, Newsbreak and other platforms being paid per click directly for their efforts and building loyal followers. This turns the apple cart of traditional journalism over on its head.

One may love or hate Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg and the platform enablers but the fact remains they have enabled the democratization of journalism and the old rules of journalism are dying. Journalism in America is actually returning to its roots of the nation's founding.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a video this week that his company will seek to protect free speech on its social media platforms by doing away with third-party fact checkers and encouraging more open discussion of hotly debated issues. This comes since Elon Musk bought Twitter now X and vowed to restore freedom of speech on social media, a lot of people have been out to get him and to get or discredit the "citizen journalist" who are developing followers on these varied platforms.

To those establishment journalists; don't hate congratulate!

Citizen journalism is a return to the natural norm of localism in journalism with thousands of voices being heard instead of 6 corporations controlling speech and debate. Citizen journalism is the future evolution of a free society returning to its natural founding roots.

Instead of degrading citizens journalistic ventures, join the party!

You never know, you too, could evolve into an independent and relevant voice and even prosper outside of the thumb and the control of big media. Times are changing will you?