IndexIntroductionChanging news perspectivesChange in sociopolitical participationProfessional level of both new and traditional forms of journalismDigital media ethicsConclusionIntroductionIn In recent years, information has been disseminated not only using traditional media. With the rapid development of the Internet and new media, information is provided instantly to people all over the world with the help of social networking sites such as "Facebook" and "Instagram". News on various topics can be spread from different senders to multiple recipients in real time. The concept of citizen journalism then spreads, leading to a change in the way information is transmitted in Hong Kong. “Citizen journalism” involves the act of an independent or group of citizens “playing an active role in the process of gathering, reporting, analyzing, and disseminating news and information” (Bowman & Willis, 2003, p. 9) . to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Citizens' social awareness has increased and social movements have been initiated more frequently (Liao, Liu, & Chen, 2011). The popularization of citizen journalism influences Hong Kong society in terms of news perspectives and sociopolitical participation; meanwhile, challenges emerge including the inconsistent level of journalism and the question of digital media ethics. This essay will illustrate the social impacts caused by the problem on Hong Kong society and exemplify the challenges brought by the phenomenon. by netizens. In Hong Kong, news outlets usually have a preference in reporting political issues, whether representing pan-democratic parties or pro-Beijing camps. People lose trust in print media as partial accounts written by journalists are commonly found (Guo, Huang, To, & Chan, 2010). To understand incidents in more depth, readers look for detailed but neutral articles, while social media presence satisfies readers. ' preference. In the digital environment in which journalists work today, more diverse perspectives are presented regarding the same news story (Haak, Parks, & Castells, 2012). Living in the age of information and technology, everyone can spread news and opinions in the virtual world. world. Not only the professional journalist, but also the general public can take part in the reporting process. When every individual is a journalist, fruitful information on specific issues can be easily obtained online. With more and more people using Internet resources, surveys reveal that people have begun to place more trust in online sources and are seeking news sources from progressively different perspectives (Bowman & Willis, 2003). Under such circumstances, the new platform allows netizens to provide distinct viewpoints and provide readers with an omniscient point of view towards numerous events. Meanwhile, some professional journalists are eager to achieve a bias-free reporting strategy that provides as many different perspectives on a topic as possible. Citizen journalism assists this new style of reporting through the popularization of social networking platforms that allow people in different positions to describe the situation and freely express their feelings (Haak, Parks, & Castells, 2012). The transmission of information is no longer one thing. unilateral knowledge transmission but interactive communication. It's possibleget broader exploration of news, while senders and recipients can instantly discuss specific issues. Internet news perspectives become increasingly universal, as citizens begin to shift their attention from print media to social media. Change in Sociopolitical Participation Citizen journalism has led to the growth of people's social awareness, resulting in an increase in sociopolitical participation. People are able to receive information anytime and anywhere thanks to Internet access in the age of information explosion, especially after the popularization of social networking sites (SNS). With faster interactive transmission of information using various social media, citizens can understand social concerns effortlessly. The in-depth comments and criticisms posted by different netizens can be easily discovered. In the past, citizens could only receive news and knowledge with limited means. Inadequate channels were provided for the public and readers to express their opinions or follow the process of working through the issues. In contrast, the advanced development of social networking sites offers citizens platforms for exchanging political opinions and ideas. Citizens can understand the situation in Hong Kong more easily, while more people are influenced and thus show their attention towards sociopolitical issues. In 2011, a study showed that the greater the participation of citizens in online discussion platforms, the greater their involvement in political movements (Harlow, 2011). This implies that the frequent exchange of ideas on sociopolitical issues can lead to the improvement of citizens' prospects. political intuition. People's social awareness is strengthened as political campaigns are organized more often with an increasing number of participants. During the 2014 Umbrella Movement, the interactivity of the social networking platform allowed alternative media to play an important role in shaping collective actions and public opinions (Chan, 2015). A campaign was initially started on social networking sites, calling for citizens to gather at the seat of government at the Admiralty. After the movement broke out, netizens took on the role of citizen journalists, using various social networking platforms to broadcast news and allow citizens who were not in the occupied areas to understand the development of the campaign. The respective parties' views were shared and spread around the world, attracting more people to participate in online debates or visit occupied areas. All in all, citizen journalism has shown its effects in increasing citizens' sociopolitical participation. Professional level of both the new and traditional form of journalism The rise of citizen journalism faces criticism regarding the professional level of the new form of journalism despite the numerous positive changes compared to the novelties and social perspectives have been brought about. Professional journalists can hardly monitor all the news published online since citizens accessing social networking sites can provide details on various events and leave their opinions. Millions of articles and comments are published on social media, while the reliability of the information released is not guaranteed. Experts hardly vouch for the quality of articles produced by citizen journalists, questioning whether or not citizen journalists should be as balanced and impartial as journalists.