‘Citizen journalism’, the military and the media

The ADF and the Department of Defence more broadly have been criticised in recent years for their lack of engagement with the media—and perceived attempts to control public comment by Defence personnel. This article considers this criticism within the context of the rise of ‘citizen journalism’, which has fundamentally changed the way news is gathered and reported, and to which traditional media, business and political organisations have had difficulty in responding. It specifically considers the adequacy of Defence’s public information policies in the context of significant change within the Australian media environment, whereby the role and credibility of the ‘source’ has also changed. Firstly, the article considers the foundations of ‘citizen journalism’, and distinguishes between citizen journalism and ‘citizen sources’. It discusses the influence of citizen journalism and access to sources on traditional media, the latter being well-illustrated in last year’s Boston marathon bombings. Finally, it addresses Defence’s public information policy in the context of a changing media landscape.