ABSTRACT
Citizen journalism has never been a unitary phenomenon; instead, it inhabits a seemingly endless array of forms. The engaged citizen journalist is sympathetic to or even participates in social justice movements and other forms of activism that aim to raise the voices of marginalized groups and/or protect them from acts of aggression and oppression. Positioned at the margins of professional journalism, they chart new narratives and challenge old ones and, in this way, can also play a role in collective endeavors that can contribute to community building. The enraged citizen journalists often express aggrieved points of view, which they may articulate through a nationalistic voice. These citizen journalists operate like termites, eating the institutions and practices that support existing norms hollow. Journalism has not consistently sought to nurture a corps of amateur enthusiasts who believe in journalism itself and who could advocate for the importance of news or even facts with the public.
