INFLUENCE OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM ON CONVENTIONAL JOURNALISM

The study titled “Influence of Citizen Journalism on Conventional Journalism: Benue State of Nigeria in Perspective” explores how citizen journalism impacts traditional journalism practices in the region. It employs the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and a survey research design, using questionnaires for data collection. Key findings reveal that citizen journalism is widely practiced in Benue State, predominantly via Facebook, but the content often lacks credibility due to bias and stereotyping. While it has compromised professional journalism standards, citizen journalism influences traditional journalists by occasionally supplementing their work, alerting them to newsworthy events, and offering diverse perspectives. The study concludes that despite its prevalence, citizen journalism in Benue State presents ethical and professional challenges. It recommends that regulatory bodies establish and enforce ethical guidelines to improve the quality and impact of citizen journalism on the broader media landscape.