What is a citizen journalist?

A citizen journalist is an ordinary individual who takes on the role of gathering, reporting, and disseminating news and information, often using digital platforms and social media. This kind of journalism empowers people without formal training in journalism to share their observations, experiences, and insights on events happening around them. This activism in information sharing plays a crucial role in highlighting issues that may otherwise be overlooked by traditional media outlets, contributing to a more inclusive understanding of news.

The other choices reflect roles that are typically more formalized and structured, such as professional journalists who work for media organizations, government officials who control information for public relations purposes, and historians who document and interpret past events rather than actively reporting current occurrences. These roles differ significantly from the grassroots nature of citizen journalism, which emphasizes accessible and immediate reporting from the perspective of everyday individuals.