The Impact of Citizen Journalism's Rise in Taiwan on Public Policies : A Comparative Analysis of LoSheng Santorium Conservation Movement, Dapu Farmland Issue, and Anti-KuoKuang Petrochemical Project Event
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Chuang, Feng-Chia
Abstract
This study attempts to explore how the Internet-based Citizen Journalism phenomenon has exercised as the key factor in influencing the public opinions and further overturning or affecting the decision-making processes of public policies from the Lo-Sheng Case, the Protest from Dapu of Miaoli, and Anti Guo-Kuang Petroleum Plant social movement.
The politics of Taiwan have undergone the so-called Silent Revolution and fulfilled numerous democratic achievements, including the direct presidential election system and two rounds of overturning political parties as the ruling parties. However, despite such democratic progress, the political decision-making process has not fully absorbed and accepted the opinions and vox populi (voices of the people) from the perspective of ‘ruling by the citizens.’ The reasons partially lie in the problematic electoral democratic system, coupled with the impact of political and economic power on the media and the rising influence of the Internet media. Media has gradually lost the role of ‘the Fourth Estate’ which was empowered and anticipated by the citizens, so that citizens have become the chess pieces or victims of elitism and bureaucratic decision-making, with no ways out as solutions.
Recently the Citizen Journalism has developed rapidly in Taiwan. This has fulfilled the spirit of participatory democracy, especially when Citizen Journalism matches the goal of the public deliberation and cooperates with social movement groups in its process. What exactly is the role that Citizen Journalism has played in these three events? The major goal of this study focuses on how citizens express their opinions towards public policies and even influence the decision-making process.
The study first defines Citizen Journalism and its development in democratic theories and public decision-making analysis through the review of literature, followed by case studies with in-depth interviews with citizen journalists, social movement members, and local participants in each case to conclude and investigate the reasons for success or failure, and further compare the role of Citizen Journalism and the impact of and influence on the relevant public policies within these cases.
The conclusion exposes the reflections based on these interviews and the dialogues in democratic theories to explore the liberation and media de-construction as well as the multifaceted progress and impact of democratic procession caused by Civic Journalism.
Subjects
Citizen journalism
Citizen correspondents
Citizen media
Public journalism
Public policy
Deliberative democracy
Participatory Democracy
SDGs
Type
thesis
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