Which term refers to content created by citizens and published online rather than by professional news organizations?

• A. Voter fatigue
• B. Beat
• C. Citizen journalism
• D. Cultivation theory

Answer: (C)

The concept here focuses on content produced by ordinary people and published online rather than by professional news organizations. This term captures how everyday individuals capture events, share their observations, and distribute them through blogs, social media, video sites, and other online platforms. It reflects a shift toward participatory journalism, where nonjournalists contribute to the information landscape and can influence public discourse by providing on-the-ground perspectives, often in real time.

Voter fatigue describes tiredness from political participation and elections, not who creates the content. A beat refers to a journalist’s regular reporting area, such as crime or health, which is about professional assignments rather than citizen-produced material. Cultivation theory is a media-effects framework that explains how long-term exposure to media shapes viewers’ perceptions of social reality, not the origin of the content.

So the term that best fits content created by citizens and published online is citizen journalism.