CITIZEN JOURNALISM: PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION DISSEMINATION: A STUDY OF AWKA METROPOLIS

This study examines the influence of Citizen Journalism on the residents of Awka, focusing on how social media platforms serve as a primary source of news and information. The research highlights that Citizen Journalism plays a significant role in the daily information consumption of Awka residents, with a considerable percentage accessing news through social media platforms. However, despite its popularity, Citizen Journalism is often viewed with skepticism regarding credibility. The preference for entertainment content suggests that many engage with Citizen Journalism for recreational purposes rather than as a primary source of factual information. The findings indicate that while social media is a widely used tool for news access, there are significant concerns about the accuracy and trustworthiness of the content shared. The study concludes that Citizen Journalism, particularly on social media, serves as an alternative news source, though it lacks the traditional gatekeeping found in professional journalism. To improve the reliability of information, the study recommends that social media be used more for disseminating important official information and that media professionals engage more deeply in online journalism to enhance the credibility and accuracy of content shared on these platforms.