Dr. Vijayta Taneja

Be it the video of naked women being paraded and traumatized in Manipur , or the visuals presenting the destructive reality of human's limitless interference with nature in the form of landslides and floods, the everyday information that presents the people with the eyewitness account of the numerous events comes from a new kind of journalism , where the common citizens create the content and the mode of sharing is social media .

This is the reason behind change in journalistic practices and traditional news outlets are now competing with a new and influential player, user-generated content (ugc). The rise of social media and online forums has allowed everyday people to become active participants in the news process. User-generated content has become an important source of information, changing the way news is created, shared and consumed.

User Generated Content is media content such as text, images , video , and audio created and shared by members of the public rather than professional journalists. Platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, and citizen journalism websites are giving voice to millions of people around the world, allowing them to share news, opinions, and sightings in real time. This has greatly democratized the dissemination of information, broken traditional media monopolies, and challenged the editor's gatekeeper function.

However, it is important to note that UGC presents challenges such as the need to verify the accuracy and reliability of the information . Journalists should be careful to avoid spreading misinformation and always verify UGC with credible sources before incorporating it into their reporting.

User-generated content increases audience engagement because they feel empowered to contribute #positively to the news . Social media platforms allow users to interact with journalists, share their perspectives, and participate in discussions on currentaffairs. This two-way communication creates a strong sense of trust between journalists and viewers. This is very important in times of fakenews and media skepticism Traditional media often face challenges in representing different points of view, as they can be subject to editorial biases and resource constraints . User-generated content, on the other hand, brings to the fore a wealth of unique perspectives, lesser-known stories , and local news. This diversity enriches the news #world and ensures that marginalized voices and underrepresented stories are recognized.

The advent of UGC gave birth to citizen journalism, where ordinary individuals act as reporters and cover events and issues of public interest. Social media platforms have become virtual newsrooms, allowing citizen journalists to create and share content that cannot be published in mainstream media. This new form of journalism holds those in power accountable and contributes to democratic debate.

User-generated content holds great potential, but it also poses ethical and legal challenges for journalists and news organizations. Ethical considerations that journalists must address include verifying the accuracy of UGC, protecting the privacy and security of content creators, and obtaining proper permission to use copyrighted material.