Mobilizing the Public: An Examination of How Well U.S. Online Newspaper and Citizen Journalists Promote Community Engagement

Author:

• Serena Carpenter (Arizona State University)

Abstract:

Online citizen journalists feel that they can reach a public that has been overlooked at the hyperlocal level, according to a recent survey. The quantitative content analysis compared online citizen journalism and online newspaper stories to determine which type of publication was better at promoting community engagement. The results indicate that online citizen journalism publications provided more mobilizing information that assists readers in connecting with their community at a local level than online newspapers.