Citizen Journalism: The New Media or Cheap Labor?

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My name is Gregory B. Gonzalez, and I am a citizen journalist. Or so they tell me. What does that really mean however? To be honest, I never really thought of myself like that. God knows I certainly don’t consider myself a journalist. A journalist reports on the news and current events- without passion and without bias. Or at least, that’s what I was taught when I took Journalism in high school. That probably explains why I hated it so much and dropped it. All I ever wanted to do was write.

we-are-citizen-journalism

Which is what I consider myself to be-a writer, no more, no less. A real writer takes sides and uses passion to evoke emotion in the people who read their work. While I enjoy making fun of politics and poking holes in the illogical thinking of idiots, I’ve never really considered what I do as ‘journalism’.

Don’t get me wrong-it makes me proud to think that I’ve influenced people to some degree and maybe changed the way they look at the world, but I’ve always said that it’s more important for people to take in my words and think for themselves instead of just taking it for granted that I’m either right or full of shit. In so far as citizen journalism goes, I think it’s a very thin line between reporting the news as we see it and misinterpreting the actual facts.

Everywhere you look now, our country is divided. Whites against non-whites, Christians against Atheists, Liberals against Conservatives, and Kardashians against Kardashians. Okay, so nobody really gives a shit about that last one, but you get my point. It just seems as though everyone is so eager to jump on the bandwagon of whatever it is they don’t like just so they can say they stand for something, even if they don’t always understand what it is they’re standing against.

In a way, being a citizen journalist is sort of liberating because I’m not beholden to anyone and I’m not being paid to promote anyone’s agenda. I can say what I want, and I don’t have to answer to anyone or take anybody else’s opinion into consideration. Then again, I don’t have any moral obligation to tell you the truth. I can pick and choose what little truths and white lies I want to mix together to get you whipped up into a righteous frenzy.

In today’s world, almost everyone has an agenda that they’re trying to push on the general public. It’s done in an attempt to alter your thinking, or better yet-to keep you from the act of thinking for yourself. From the way our national IQ has dropped since the millennium hit, I’d have to say it’s working. I mean, we live in an age of information where we can just pull out our phones and look up stuff in the span of a few seconds, and yet we still have morons who ask simple questions because it doesn’t occur to them to look it up on Google, for fuck’s sake.

That’s the dark side of citizen journalism. You only need one smart guy to talk in a room full of idiots, and the next thing you know, they’ll proclaim that guy is a genius, which explains Sarah Palin’s career, Fox News’ high ratings, and Joe Hagstrom’s popularity on this website. (LOL! Just kidding!)

As for where I stand, I feel like I do have an obligation to write honestly and from the heart. It’s my responsibility to be at least somewhat factual, even if I’m not up to date on the latest details. To my way of thinking, it doesn’t matter if I’m making ten cents or ten thousand dollars doing this. What matters to me is the audience I’m writing for.

I just wish that everybody else felt the same way. Now that we have a greater level of communication, it should be bringing us closer instead of driving us apart. The written word is meant to inspire and stir what is inside the human heart and to stimulate what is inside the human brain. It only cheapens who we are when we use these gifts to tear each other down.

I won’t lie and say that I’ve never done so, but I’m trying to be better. It’s called growing.

About Post Author

Gregory B. Gonzalez

Gregory B. Gonzalez is an angry black man who isn't actually black. No, really- he told us to say that! His parents once had him tested for Tourette's, but when the doctor came back with his results, he said, "No, he's fine. Your son is just an a**hole!" It's been downhill ever since. He lives like the Unabomber, only without the explosives. Feel free to contact him provided you can actually locate him. Just keep in mind that he'll probably make fun of you to your face. We here at MMA can't stand him, so if you want him, he's all yours!
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Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

I admit the prospect of Jess giving a spanking does have some allure I can’t in any universe think of any pleasure derived from an umbrella stuck where the sun doesn’t shine. If Vitter can get away with whoring and Sanford with boinking his Argentine hottie with the “magnificent pair” I’m sure fellow republicans could forgive an innocent spanking.

Now watch Jess show up with an umbrella to spank me with. That might be difficult to explain.

jess
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

Why yes, yes I do have umbrellas. Burberry one and a Vuitton one so you will be spanked with luxury and you will like it.

Reply to  jess
9 years ago

Luxury spanking. Yes. Oh yes.

9 years ago

Joe, I was just messing with you. Why else would I end that by saying, “Hugs”? You can say whatever you want. Besides, I don’t even own an umbrella!

Rachael
9 years ago

Words of truth Gregory, and fine words they are.

Reply to  Rachael
9 years ago

Thanks, Rachael!

Anonymous
9 years ago

I don’t know there is a difference between journalism and commentary. Commentary can always be journalism and vice-versa. What I’ve seen over here for the last few years is art. Skilled journalists, reporters, editors writing the words that read well for all of us. That’s what I look for and once again I’ve found it…here, and in all the pieces on this page.

Stacey Gray
Reply to  Anonymous
9 years ago

I was of the opinion that journalism reported the facts. Journalists used to dig and fight to get to the truth. Commentary expressed opinions, suppositions and perspectives on those facts.

The issue today is that the “reported as facts” are subject to the reporters’ opinion, tilted by their own agendas rather than being unbiased truth. Hence the “reported truth” becomes only biased comment.

Perhaps you are right. There seems to be little difference anymore. Your truth depends on who you got it from, Fox, CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, Huffington Post or wall Street Journal. Truth has become superlative.

Reply to  Anonymous
9 years ago

Thanks, Anonymous!

Tall Stacey
9 years ago

There is a difference between journalism and commentary.

Reply to  Tall Stacey
9 years ago

T.S.- You know that, and I know that, but does Fox News know that?

9 years ago

He’s not going to pay you Greg old bean…nice try but he isn’t 😉

Cracking article old bean (still free though eh?) 😉

Reply to  Norman Rampart
9 years ago

Thanks, Normie. It never hurts to try. Besides, I like wearing clear heels.

Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

Ah Jess my trampy friend.We only need 50% of the electorate plus one vote. The rest of the country doesn’t care enough to see what we’re doing or has given up because we screwed up their government so bad they believe there is nothing they can do about it. God help us republicans if everyone who marched in a recent rally registered and voted rather than looted.

Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

Joe, as my colleague, I respectfully ask that you refrain from calling my friend a tramp. On a personal level, do that again and I might pick up an umbrella, put it somewhere delicate and open it. Hugs.

Joe Hagstrom
Reply to  gregory b. gonzalez
9 years ago

I will refrain from commenting on your articles Gregory. Success to you.

jess
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

Don’t make me reach back there, he is messing with you the way you mess with me and the way we all mess with everyone else.

jess
Reply to  gregory b. gonzalez
9 years ago

Don’t do that to him, it will hurt him…OR he may just like it. You know how those republicans are. He’s messing with me as I do him.

jess
9 years ago

Don’t need to kid about that Joe Hagstrom guy, he’s a republican hack Greg. If everyone felt this way, Fox News I’m talking about you, this country no the world would be in a better place right now.

Reply to  jess
9 years ago

(Hearts and flowers) *sigh….!*

Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

What you thought was the lowering of America’s IQ at the start of the millennium actually started when we ran Reagan in 1980. Millions of “Reagan Democrats” or as we insider republicans often refer to as our dupes voted against their own interests. They voted for policies that would break unions, the one organization that really worked to do anything to improve the lives of working people. They cut government and made departments like OSHA which enforced safety rules in the workplace a dirty word. Deregulation led to market crashes and scandals like the savings and loan crisis which costs taxpayers billions but nobody can really tell how many billions.
It led to high level scandals like Iran/Contra which in the end nobody got more thsn a slap on the wrist.
The people liberals refer to as low IQ we republicans call real Americans and patriots. They’re obedience to our message has made my wealthy one percent benefactors for richer while they’re worth has stagnated or gone down.
To these people I say thank you. We republicans will make sure you can buy all the guns you want.

Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

Very nice Joe. Your Republicanism is a passion to be viewed with awe indeed.

Tall Stacey
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

Their obedience, their worth… your Tea-publicanism is showing….

http://aattp.org/15-funniest-misspelled-teapublican-signs-ever/

Reply to  Tall Stacey
9 years ago

(exasperated) *sigh….*

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