Technological proliferation and the rise of the Internet has undoubtedly changed the media industry. Some may say that citizen journalism has always existed, just in different forms; however, growing access to technology, and usually the Internet that inhabits it, has allowed for an influx of regular people sharing alternative views and stories on both a local and international level. Essentially, this is citizen journalism.

As an aspiring journalist, Twitter is a great tool for sharing content. Succinct reports, musings, information and ideas can be put to followers instantaneously, with the potential for your words to reach far and wide if they strike a chord with people. In this post, I will discuss the pros and cons of microblogging on Twitter, along with some of my own experiences using the platform. — A relatively new mode of communication, the term ‘microblogging’ is defined by Merriam-Webster as “blogging done with severe space or size constraints typically by posting frequent brief messages about personal activities”. Twitter is a prime environment for microblogging, where users can compose posts with a 280-character limit, covering anything, from what they had for breakfast, to the latest from parliament.

The notion of traditional storytelling is becoming an increasingly distant memory. The move from conventional modes of storytelling can be largely attributed to the surge in use of social media sites, such as Snapchat and Instagram, where users can construct narratives in new, innovative ways. — The proliferation of Instagram has been fundamental in changing how people create and share stories. Whilst Instagram launched over a decade ago, their “Instagram Stories” feature was introduced in 2016, allowing users to share ephemeral pictures and videos with their followers, further revolutionising the way we create and engage in narrative today.

At the start of a year where the headlines are already giving 2020 a run for its money, the public are likely to be inundated with updates from the people and organisations at the forefront — these updates usually come from press conferences. But what is really is a press conference, and what purpose do they serve for their audiences and the journalists attending them? — A week into the new year, several notable press conferences have already been held. From Georgia’s governor Kemp, to prime minister Boris Johnson, leaders are gathering the media to keep them, and their audiences, abreast of the latest developments.

Last year, Johnny Depp and UK newspaper, the Sun, entered a headline-making legal battle, after Depp attempted to sue the newspaper for libel. Depp’s attempt to sue The Sun came as a result of an article published, which referred to the Hollywood actor as a “wife-beater”. — So, what is libel? Did Depp have a leg to stand on? Below, we’ll delve a little deeper into the law of defamation and what it meant for one of the most high-profile libel cases of recent years.

Whew. Whilst some of us — myself included — thought that this day may never come, we’re waving goodbye to a year of seemingly never-ending major headlines and breaking news stories. — From the killing of George Floyd and the worldwide protests that followed, to Brexit, to a fatal explosion in Beirut, to the US election, to Australian bushfires, to the dreaded C-word that halted life as we knew it. Only in 2020 would the Pentagon release footage of UFOs(!) without anyone even batting an eyelid. Throughout it all, the media have been at the forefront, covering the crazy, uplifting, devastating, and, quite frankly at times, overwhelming stories that shaped our year. Of course, this list is far from extensive (because, let’s face it, we’d be here until 2022!) but below, I will explore a few of the biggest stories of 2020, as well as the impact on the people and organisations that covered them.