Smartphones, crystal clear cameras and constant connectivity make everyone a potential reporter. No longer do journalists have to race to the scene to get the headlines as that is a sprint the citizen journalist always wins.
The Arab Spring, Hong Kong’s Umbrella protests and Ukraine’s Euromaidan movement are all examples of how social media is changing the rules of news reporting. Egypt has never forgiven Qatar’s Al Jazeera for helping protesters get their message out in the 2011 revolution. Nor has any of Qatar’s immediate neighbours who have currently closed their doors to the tiny emirate.
The evolution of technology and the potential for cyber-espionage has made news safeguards vital. It is widely alleged the recent Qatar stand-off was triggered by freelance Russian hackers posting material on Qatar’s state news agency website. Fake comments attributed to the country’s emir were instantly highlighted by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Qatar was isolated.
While the above example could have come straight out of a spy novel, there are growing precedents of news organisations feeling the digital pinch. Let’s hope journalism stays strong.
Article written by Simon Ross
The Edittoir 