The Agenda Setting Role Played by Citizen Journalists in Kenya

Abstract

The Internet has become the fastest process to share or receive instant and timely news with the unique aspect being, that the news stories are not just from professional journalists but ordinary people in the society. These ordinary citizens also known as citizen journalists utilize social media platforms as a medium to disseminate any occurrence they come across in their day to day activities. This paper investigates the agenda setting role played by Citizen Journalists in Kenya and their influence in the society through shaping perspectives and opinions. The dynamic character and impact of Citizen Journalism on traditional forms of media and information is a developing phenomenon that has not been thoroughly studied. The paper establishes that citizen journalism platforms were used by members of the public to spark debates and set the agenda on social, political and economic issues affecting them. The findings are beneficial to media owners, media practitioners in regards to creativity in media and professional use of citizen journalism platforms, while to scholars and policy makers in formulation of new media curriculum that focuses on the platforms as well as media policies that will regulate the platforms following the legal and ethical challenges that come with the technological changes identified.