When the average reader credits citizen journalist bloggers as trained reporters, who share clickbait and tabloid on social media, the result ends in the lack of transparency when consuming digital news. Consuming online news can trick the untrained eye leading to believing myths. Studying journalism acquainted me with world renowned philosopher Dr. John Rawls. Rawls opened my eyes to respect the habit of being the ends as a moral agent with my audience. Citizen bloggers masquerading as journalists rarely consider the reader’s right to decide the truth from false. My first habit inspects ethics and credibility before consuming blogs as news.
Blogs are my last resort when seeking online news unless the source has academic credibility like The United States Army War College. I seek legacy reporting websites as a first choice for national news. After interviewing members of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, I quickly became acquainted with convergence reporting that had me intrigued. Viewers converge with print journalists online at www.jsonline.com and on Twitter during breaking news. The editors receive leads, then write the story once confirming source credibility as true. Convergence puts the credibility back in the hands of the reporter.
I follow The Post Crescent from my hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin, which offers great lifestyle features at www.postcrescent.com. On a state level, The Wisconsin State Journal offers outlets for freelance reporters. I submit found footage through blogs and have interviewed reporters, editors and assignment managers for class projects. As a writer in the freelance journalism community, I subscribe to the news that keeps me working. I consume my news from websites and endorse credible outlets who use editors with a solid reputation. The news I seek ranges from Wisconsin State Capitol hearings to Madison Common Council reports.
On an international level, I seek military editorials from Military.com and The U.S. Army War College as my go to favorite news sites. My pursuit to become a combat correspondent combined with my military service follows my childhood hero’s path of Walter Cronkite. My favorite local broadcast news site offers portals for uploading found footage at www.nbc15.com, who interacts with viewers.
I prefer to access the news through Facebook pages and websites who converge with viewers because of social distance interaction and safety. Search engines help when I crowdsource niche subjects like veteran affairs for feature stories. Google comes in handy when seeking out newsworthy sources. I only use Google for searching out subjects to write about. I prefer to interact online with viewers when consuming the news.
Social media outlets and news resource pages allow convergence with readers. When consuming news, my first stop seeks out the opinion of viewers. Social media platforms offer leads. Breaking news coverage on social media offers added advantages. My primary resource for news consummation comes from social media outlets.
Convergence coverage between journalists and subscribers happens on-the-spot in the comments section. I tend to comment when a journalist makes an error or offers the viewer an opinion in their editorial. Journalism online allows for partisan editorializing with the ever-growing rise of citizen journalism. Commenting educates viewers when journalism ethics disappear.