Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor and Head of the Journalism Department at the Faculty of Communication, Prof. Süleyman İrvan, evaluated citizen reporting, which has come to the fore with the widespread adoption of digital communication technologies, its differences from traditional journalism, and the ethical issues arising from news sharing on social media.
“Journalism is the profession of telling the truth”
Stating that journalism is a profession that investigates events concerning society, gathers, organizes, and publishes information, Prof. Süleyman İrvan said that the absence of a diploma requirement for entering the profession does not eliminate the ethical principles of journalism.
Emphasizing that the fundamental obligation of journalism is adherence to the truth, Prof. İrvan said, “The first obligation of journalism is to the news, that is, to the truth. The information conveyed must be based on verified data. Journalism is the profession of telling the truth.”
Noting that a journalist is primarily responsible to the public, Prof. İrvan stated, “The authority to which a journalist must be loyally bound is the public. Journalism must serve the public interest.”
“It is the journalist’s job to uncover what the powerful want to hide”
Stating that journalism is not limited to merely relaying events but also carries the responsibility of research and inquiry, Prof. İrvan said, “It is the journalist’s job to uncover what the powerful want to hide. The lives of investigative journalists, in particular, are spent doing this.”
Prof. İrvan also criticized the reporting of social media posts without verification, saying, “When a famous person sends a tweet, it is immediately taken and made into news. However, a reporter could send a message and get more information.”
“Event selection in citizen reporting is random”
Explaining that there are significant differences between citizen reporting and traditional journalism in terms of news selection, production, and publication, Prof. İrvan said that citizens mostly record and share events they witness.
“In citizen reporting, event selection is random. If they are at the scene, they record and share. They do not pursue a planned story like a reporter. In traditional media, on the other hand, it is determined in morning meetings which news will be followed,” said Prof. İrvan, noting that news in traditional media goes through editorial processes, while such a mechanism is mostly absent in citizen reporting.
Stating that mobile phones and the internet have facilitated the spread of citizen reporting, Prof. İrvan pointed out that while this development increases participation in news production, it also carries serious risks.
“Excessive speed on social media can lead to social panic”
Stating that the rapid spread of news in the digital environment can weaken verification processes, Prof. İrvan said, “Just as speed is dangerous in traffic, so it is in journalism. Excessive speed is risky. Shares made on social media without any editorial filter can cause outrage in times of crisis. In disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and similar events, misinformation can lead to social panic.”
Prof. İrvan also stated that negative and sensational content spreads faster on social media, saying, “While bad news spreads at the speed of light, good news travels at a snail's pace. Fake news spreads six times faster than real news. Research conducted in America shows that negative content is shared much faster on social media.”
“Journalism is a profession; it has education, ethical values, and technical expertise”
Noting that objectivity and ethical responsibilities in citizen reporting are not at the same level as in professional journalism, Prof. İrvan emphasized that despite this, everyone who shares news must remain faithful to the truth.
“In journalism, we expect a fact-based narrative free from subjective judgments. Citizen reporting does not have such a concern. It can have a more subjective and one-sided perspective,” said Prof. İrvan, explaining the basic responsibility expected from citizen reporters as follows:
“They will not create fictional news and will not distort the truth. This is our fundamental expectation. Sharing an old image as if it were new is also distorting the truth.”
Emphasizing that journalism has ethical principles, professional knowledge, and public interest responsibility, Prof. Süleyman İrvan said, “I call the participation of citizens, whose main profession is not journalism, in the news production process with the help of digital communication technologies, citizen reporting. I do not call it citizen journalism. Because journalism is a profession; it has education, ethical values, and technical expertise.”
“Citizen reporting: both a threat and an opportunity”
Prof. İrvan also evaluated the effects of citizen reporting on professional journalism, stating that this development has, on one hand, negatively impacted reporter employment and, on the other hand, offered new news sources to journalists.
Regarding the threat dimension of citizen reporting, Prof. İrvan said, “It's a threat because it has reduced reporter employment. It's easier to use images from citizens than to send reporters. News agency-based journalism has developed. And artificial intelligence has come into play, which is another threat.”
However, Prof. İrvan stated that social media offers significant opportunities for investigative journalism, saying, “A journalist can create a very good story by scanning the posts of people at the scene. It used to be difficult to find evidence; now there is a lot of data on social media. This is a process that facilitates journalism.”
“Journalism is experiencing an identity crisis”
Prof. İrvan pointed out that digital transformation has profoundly affected not only citizen reporting but also traditional media organizations, stating, “Circulation has dropped, public trust has decreased, people are not reading newspapers. In the past, the medium where the news was published was important. Now people don't even look at the medium. The connection with the institution producing the news has been severed.”
Prof. İrvan argued that the goal of getting more reads and shares on news websites sometimes overrides ethical principles, saying, “Journalism is actually experiencing an identity crisis. But journalism will continue, even if it faces problems. A lot of work falls to professional organizations. We need to strengthen institutional journalism. If there is an institutional structure, at least the verification mechanism works.”
“If you say you are a journalist, you must adhere to journalistic principles”
Prof. İrvan stated that individuals who share news-related content on social media also bear responsibility regarding journalistic ethics, and that the distinction between news and advertising must be maintained.
Prof. İrvan said, “Sharing news is also journalism. They don't necessarily have to write it. But if they are advertising and mixing news with advertising, there is an ethical problem. I wouldn't say ‘You are not a journalist,’ but I would say act in accordance with journalistic codes. If a person says, ‘I am a journalist,’ they must act in accordance with the principles of journalism.”
Prof. İrvan emphasized the importance of preserving institutional structures and professional principles for the future of journalism, concluding his remarks as follows:
“We need practices that will strengthen journalism. Many journalists in Turkey have been pushed out of the sector. We need to discuss how we can make journalism better.”
