Title: From inspectors to guides: how citizen journalism and participatory culture affect the professional identity of Swedish journalists (Swedish title: Från granskare till guide: om medborgarjournalistikens och deltagarkulturens påverkan på svenska journalisters professionella identitet). Number of pages: 44 (48 including enclosures). Authors: Towe Bengtsson and Matilda Källén. Tutor: Amelie Hössjer. Course: Media and Communication Studies C. Period: Fall 2011. University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University. Purpose/Aim: The goal of this paper was to answer how citizen journalism and participatory journalism as well as an increasing range of information today have affected the professional identity and professional lives of journalists. In addition to this, study how journalists today respond to these changes. Material/Method: The study is based on Deuze’s theories about journalistic ideals, Jenkins’ theories about convergence culture, and on theories about professionalization and de-professionalization based on Nygren, Wiik and Torstendahl’s theories. The study is based on eight interviews with professional journalists, four employed journalists and four freelance journalists. The results are analysed based on a broad theoretical framework. Main results: The results of this survey show that the role of the professional journalist is extremely complex, with a strong ideological basis that fundamentally influences the journalist's view of the profession and of him- or herself. The survey shows that the journalist role is changing and how important the identification as a journalist still is. Furthermore, the survey shows that the role is being redefined. The role consists of two levels, an ideological level and a more practical level. The survey shows how these two levels are in harmony, but also on a collision course, and how journalists seek to clarify their ideology to distinguish themselves from others, but also how they actually adapt the ideals on a more practical level. In summary, despite a de-professionalization of the profession, the journalists keep the journalistic ideals very high, although they constantly redefine their role, as well as the ideals. They see their role as an aid to guide the readers, rather than a traditional journalist, although they still cling to a traditional perception of the ideal journalist.

Different forms of non-traditional journalism play an increasingly important role when it comes to informing us about what´s happening around the world. By the use of one case study—the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement—this essay aims to research the following problem: How does the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement relate to alternative journalism during disaster and conflict operations? The question is explored from theory on alternative journalism and its alleged empowering potential and as an alternative in cases where traditional journalism fails. Through individual interviews with participants from the organization including one focus group interview, the study gives an overview of how these professionals relate to alternative journalism and how it is incorporated into the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement´s (hereafter RCRCM) activities. Conclusions include that: RCRCM is increasingly using information from alternative journalism to monitor and listen to different audiences and as sources for operational purposes. Alternative journalism comes with opportunities such as; closer dialogue and feedback, credibility and accountability to the sector as well as empowerment.  Direct Movement organizational benefits include helping to mobilize communities to participate in operations through for instance becoming members and volunteers and contributing to fundraising efforts. However there are challenges, in particularly in view of adhering to the RCRCMs fundamental and key operational principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence. / Olika former av icke-traditionell journalistik spelar en allt viktigare roll för oss när det gäller att informera oss om vad som händer i världen. Genom att använda en fallstudie, rödakors- och rödahalvmånerörelsen, undersöker uppsatsen följande problem: Hur relaterar rödakors- och rödahalvmånerörelsen till alternativ journalistik under katastrof- och konfliktinsatser? Frågan undersöks utifrån teorier om alternativ journalistik och dess påstådda potential som alternativ i fall där traditionell journalistik misslyckas. Genom individuella intervjuer och en fokusgrupp-intervju med kommunikatörer från organisationen ger studien en översikt över hur de förhåller sig till alternativ journalistik och hur den införlivas i rödakors- och rödahalvmånerörelsens (härefter RCRCM) aktiviteter. Slutsatser inkluderar att: RCRCM använder alltmer alternativ journalistik för att följa och lyssna på bredare målgrupper men också som källor för operativa ändamål. Alternativ journalistik ger framförallt möjligheter såsom närmare dialog och återkoppling, trovärdighet och ansvarighet (accountability) för sektorn samt medbestämmande. Direkta organisatoriska fördelar inkluderar underlättandet vad gäller att mobilisera befolkningen till att delta i insatser, till exempel genom att bli volontärer/frivilliga eller medlemmar samt bidra till ökad insamling. Men det finns utmaningar, särskilt när det gäller att följa organisationens grundläggande och viktiga operationella principer om opartiskhet, neutralitet och oberoende.