STOMP = Citizen Journalism
As said earlier, the main purpose of STOMP is to get Singaporeans engaged with social issues, an example being inconsiderate commuters (something everyone can relate to). Issues such as these or any others need to be brought up and made aware that it is happening in Singapore.
Since STOMP is for us Singaporeans, in my opinion, the only way for STOMP to further improve itself is to get more people to join, post up pictures, videos, and create an online community of its own. In an attempt to attract more crowd, STOMP could perhaps provide incentives such as free movie tickets, to the top contributor of the month, or something along that line. At the moment, Kudos to STOMP!
What Is Citizen Journalism?
Citizen journalism, also known as "participatory journalism," is the act of citizens "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information" according to the seminal report We Media: How Audiences are Shaping the Future of News and Information, by Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis. They say, "The intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires." (Citizen Journalism, 2007). Unlike the common media journalism that we witness, citizen journalism involves user-generated content.
STOMP.sg
STOMP (Straits Times Online Mobile Print) is a Singapore-based online portal by Singapore Press Holdings. Through the three platforms of online, mobile and print, STOMP enables Singaporeans to interact and engage in current affairs of Singapore. (STOMP, 2007).
STOMP delivers content which is interactive and which helps develop new communities of Singaporeans, bonding together by shared interests. The Straits Times Editor Han Fook Kwang explained, “In the new media environment, newspapers have to be more than just passive providers of news. They have to engage their readers in areas which appeal to them. We have to provide readers with new avenues to express themselves, to enable them to interact with us, and among themselves.” (Singapore Press Holdings, 2006). As Gillmor (2004) says, “The ability of anyone to make the news will give new voice to people who’ve felt voiceless”, and STOMP certainly provides an avenue for this.
Citizen journalism, also known as "participatory journalism," is the act of citizens "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information" according to the seminal report We Media: How Audiences are Shaping the Future of News and Information, by Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis. They say, "The intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires." (Citizen Journalism, 2007). Unlike the common media journalism that we witness, citizen journalism involves user-generated content.
STOMP.sg
STOMP (Straits Times Online Mobile Print) is a Singapore-based online portal by Singapore Press Holdings. Through the three platforms of online, mobile and print, STOMP enables Singaporeans to interact and engage in current affairs of Singapore. (STOMP, 2007).
STOMP delivers content which is interactive and which helps develop new communities of Singaporeans, bonding together by shared interests. The Straits Times Editor Han Fook Kwang explained, “In the new media environment, newspapers have to be more than just passive providers of news. They have to engage their readers in areas which appeal to them. We have to provide readers with new avenues to express themselves, to enable them to interact with us, and among themselves.” (Singapore Press Holdings, 2006). As Gillmor (2004) says, “The ability of anyone to make the news will give new voice to people who’ve felt voiceless”, and STOMP certainly provides an avenue for this.
STOMP = Citizen Journalism
It has been noticeably clear that over the years, Singaporeans have begun to speak u
p their minds and become more involved in sousveillance. Participating and leaving comments on STOMP.sg would have never been thought of about 10 years ago. Today, issues such as “Brother looking for long-lost sister”, “Ribena, Why So Little Vit C In Your Drink?”, and “Karang Guni Man’s Loot A Hazard” have surfaced. Technology, in the form of camera phones and video cameras have certainly helped Singaporeans express their concerns and “disgust” online with much more ease.
p their minds and become more involved in sousveillance. Participating and leaving comments on STOMP.sg would have never been thought of about 10 years ago. Today, issues such as “Brother looking for long-lost sister”, “Ribena, Why So Little Vit C In Your Drink?”, and “Karang Guni Man’s Loot A Hazard” have surfaced. Technology, in the form of camera phones and video cameras have certainly helped Singaporeans express their concerns and “disgust” online with much more ease. Though modern physically, Singaporeans are still conservative and cowardly at heart. For instance, Joyce, the person who took this photo, could have directly gone up to the teenager asking him to give up the seat to the pregnant woman. But no, she did not do that. Why? It could possibly be because she was afraid to speak up in public.
Hence, for people like Joyce (there are many others out there in Singapore), STOMP indeed proves to be an ideal form of citizen journalism.
Improving STOMP
As said earlier, the main purpose of STOMP is to get Singaporeans engaged with social issues, an example being inconsiderate commuters (something everyone can relate to). Issues such as these or any others need to be brought up and made aware that it is happening in Singapore.Since STOMP is for us Singaporeans, in my opinion, the only way for STOMP to further improve itself is to get more people to join, post up pictures, videos, and create an online community of its own. In an attempt to attract more crowd, STOMP could perhaps provide incentives such as free movie tickets, to the top contributor of the month, or something along that line. At the moment, Kudos to STOMP!
References
1. “STOMP (online portal)” (February 14, 2007) From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Retrieved 14:42, March 28, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STOMP_%28online_portal%29
2. “Citizen journalism” (March 28, 2006) From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Retrieved 14:59, March 28, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_journalism
3. Gillmor, D. “We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People” (July, 2004). Retrieved March 28, 2007 from http://download.nowis.com/index.cfm?phile=WeTheMedia.html&tipe=text/html#chap9
4. “The Straits Times extends its reach with bold new platform STOMP” (June 14, 2006), From Singapore Press Holdings, Retrieved 15:16, March 28, 2007, from http://www.sph.com.sg/news/latest/press_060614_001.html
2. “Citizen journalism” (March 28, 2006) From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Retrieved 14:59, March 28, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_journalism
3. Gillmor, D. “We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People” (July, 2004). Retrieved March 28, 2007 from http://download.nowis.com/index.cfm?phile=WeTheMedia.html&tipe=text/html#chap9
4. “The Straits Times extends its reach with bold new platform STOMP” (June 14, 2006), From Singapore Press Holdings, Retrieved 15:16, March 28, 2007, from http://www.sph.com.sg/news/latest/press_060614_001.html
1 comment:
Early Bird award for you! Nicely done :)
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