Communicative Action and Citizen Journalism: A Case Study of <i>OhmyNews</i> in South Korea

Authors

  • Seungahn Nah University of Kentucky
  • Deborah S. Chung School of Journalism and Telecommunications University of Kentucky

Keywords:

citizen journalism, professional journalism, theory of communicative action, the lifeworld, systems, in-depth interviews

Abstract

Drawing on Habermas’s theory of communicative action, this case study of OhmyNews in South Korea examines how citizen journalism operates in a broad organizational and social context. Through in-depth interviews with professional and citizen journalists, the study reveals that citizen journalism can be well understood at the intersection between the lifeworld and systems. Specifically, the study finds a coexistence mechanism by which citizen journalism competes, collaborates, coordinates, and compromises with professional journalism through communicative action, such as mutual understanding, reason-based discussion, and consensus building.

Author Biographies

Seungahn Nah, University of Kentucky

Associate ProfessorDept. of Community and Leadership Development &School of Information Science 

Deborah S. Chung, School of Journalism and Telecommunications University of Kentucky

Associate Professor

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Published

2016-04-28

Issue

Vol. 10 (2016)

Section

Articles

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