Online Journalism and Human Rights

Introduction

Online journalism can be classified in the fifth estate as it uses the Internet as its main medium of conveying information and news. Globalization has managed to open the door for online journalism to participate in sharing the responsibility of the media such as the watchdog and whistleblower. It is a vital role played by this type of media in fulfilling their obligations to the society. The traditional media has been a rigid information source and closely scrutinized by the authorities, the public have turned to alternative media for uncensored information in order for them to be critical in their opinion as well as being objective in making any personal decision.

According to Article 19, Universal Declarations of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Align with the subject mattered in Article 19, online journalism is applying it in upholding and protecting the human rights by providing adequate information needed by the society. Hence, there are imperative issues related to human rights have been brought up by the alternative media that gave huge impact to the community such as WikiLeaks controversial in exposing official secret documents to the public. This is important for the public’s knowledge for them to start to pay attention on their human rights in their country.

Definition of online journalism and human rights

Online journalism is defined as reporting and other journalism produced or distributed via the Internet (Fact-Archive.com, 2005). Online journalism could vary from distributing news through websites or one of the most prevalent online journalism is blogging. Blogging is a form of medium where the news is written and sometimes provides analysis of certain events through the eye of the writer. One of the earliest sites specializing in linking news sources was links.net which was created in 1994 by Justin Hall (Radcliffe, 2008). The general idea of typical online journalism is that the journalists have to make decisions on which media formats effectively conveyed the message, allow interactivity with the public’s respond, consider ways hyperlink the stories with other resources (Deuze, 2001). In respond to this typical functional idea, online journalism has developed its functions to fulfilling the social responsibility due to the lack of freedom of expression in the traditional media as the journalists are not allowed to express their own ideas but rather to succumb to the agenda setting of the media organization of traditional media.

As mentioned in precedent paragraph, online journalism is using its vast ability of providing information to the public as social responsibility in tandem with protecting the human rights legitimately owned by the society. Human rights according to the United Nation is the rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. These rights are ranged from article 1 to article 30 which specifies on different matters. It is developed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (un.org, 2011). Relation to online journalism, article 19 has specifically touched on the freedom of opinion and expression as well as the right to access information without of the frontiers.

Online Journalism, whistleblower and protecting human rights

Journalism has obligation to its infamous role as the watchdog and whistleblower to the public. It means should there be any misused of power by the authorities, the media would act as whistleblower that would inform the public of the scenario. This is a crucial role as check and balance of the authorities. Subsequently, it would lead to protecting human rights of the society in terms of indicating the public of problems which arose in the administration such as corruption and eventually protecting the welfare of the people. There are many cases which involves the exposure of corruption. It happens due to the non transparency of administration’s transition in handling the currency in the country. Lack of information or biased information is a sign of oppressing the human rights deserved for the society as well as preventing the society to choose a better government to feed their needs.

There are websites designed specifically to act as whistleblower, such as WikiLeaks, Pinoyleaks, Thaileaks and Indoleaks. This websites are purposely designed to distribute any information obtained from the sources regarding the misused of power of the authorities. Apart from that, there are also blogs as means of expressing opinion freely. Prof. Nagwa Fahmy (2010) proposed in her research that blogs act as a promoting digital democracy and defending human rights, with implication on developing the public sphere. This is supported by Mckee (2005) that internet accessibility made the blogs as vital communication tool for information and ideas to be informed and interact. Therefore, it creates public awareness and involvement in local issues that consequently would mobilize their country towards democratization which shows a form of protecting the citizens human rights.

Study Case: Revolution of Egypt 

The Egyptians has brought shocked to the world when they protested to overrule the Hosni Mubarak’s reign for 33 years and online journalism has everything got to do with it. In Egypt, the New Social Movement activists has moved online in discussing matters on politics, economics, human rights and social issues that are overlooked by Egypt’s mainstream media in blogs (Nagwa, 2010). Blogs has been the battle field of modern Egyptians for democracy and political reform as well as engaging in social movements. Activist-bloggers extended their blog’s function to the street as they use it to mobilize their supporters and demonstrate for political change and reform (Nagwa, 2010). The recent event of blog activities has caused the Egyptians to protests against their government and demanded resignation from Hosni Mubarak. Eventually, Egypt now has achieved democracy in their country and their human rights are being uphold caused by online journalism.

Conclusion

Online journalism cannot be seen as a moderate medium in instilling public awareness as it has developed its function into shaping the public’s opinion. It has even brought revolution to a country. It is also best to remember, if the medium of online journalism is being used to its maximum with positivity, upholding human rights is no longer an obstacle against misused of power and oppression.