Importance of Technology and Creativity in Journalism

Technology and Creative Expression
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Technology and Creative Expression
Question 1: Collaboration between Mainstream and Citizen Journalists
Accessing different subcultures at times becomes a problematic task for mainstream journalists to maneuver. Accessing places like prisons or military barracks alongside other private entities might require many permissions and bureaucracies that are not easy to obtain. Also, even by obtaining several permissions to access the entities, introduction as a journalist is likely to affect journalists' findings. For instance, if a journalist approaches prison officials formally for permission to do a story on inmates' plight, their conclusions might be incorrect. The officials might coerce the wardens to behave per the law, which might not be regular days. Therefore, to obtain precise information of the prison reality on ordinary days, mainstream journalists are likely to cooperate with citizen journalists inside the prison to smuggle out the prison's needed information.
Some of the media channels used by citizen journalists to obtain information needed by the mainstream journalists from different subcultures include blogs and even pamphlets. An excellent example of such pamphlets is the famous prison zine that highlights issues about prisons. Citizens can also use personal blogs to highlights videos about various realities in different subcultures. Social media is also another channel through which citizen journalists can share their stories with mainstream media. In return, mainstream journalists can use evidence obtained by citizen journalists to supplement their stories.
Question 2: Application of New Techniques in Online Journalism Through "Firestorm"
The "Firestorm" piece of an online interactive story is a perfect example of how modern journalists have embraced technology to showcase their creativity in expressing ideas. Jon Henley and the Guardian team who worked together to produce "Firestorm" did incorporate both mainstream and citizen journalism in the piece. Aspects of citizen journalism are evident in the piece through Holmes's armature pictures during the invasion. Guardian being a mainstream media, thus used the images and information from the Holmes experiences during the fair to come up with the piece that creates awareness to the public about climate change.
The piece also stands out thanks to the incorporation of different forms of media in it. Firestorm producers have cleverly incorporated still photos, videos, and digital print in the piece. Still, photos are used ...