In an era dominated by smartphones and social media, citizen journalism has emerged as a double-edged sword. While it provides real-time updates and amplifies voices, it can also be exploitative, sensationalist, and misleading. The recent Los Angeles wildfire highlights both the power and the pitfalls of citizen journalism, emphasizing the need for professional reporting and real-world community action over performative online activism.
The Dark Side of Citizen Journalism
As the wildfire engulfed neighborhoods in Los Angeles, dramatic footage flooded social media. Videos of flames licking the skies, residents fleeing their homes, and charred landscapes captured the world’s attention. Much of this content came from ordinary citizens equipped with smartphones. While these posts initially served to raise awareness, they also revealed the darker side of citizen journalism.
Some individuals prioritized viral content over ethical reporting. Often times going out of their way to enter neighborhoods engulfed in flames in their quest for likes, shares, and followers. They trespassed on private property, interfered with emergency responders, and even fabricated stories to make their content more gripping. Sensationalism overshadowed facts, leading to the spread of misinformation.
Additionally, the focus on dramatic visuals often reduced the wildfire to a spectacle, neglecting the human stories of loss and resilience. This kind of exploitation not only deepens the emotional scars of survivors but also erodes trust in media, making it harder for critical, accurate information to cut through the noise.
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The Need for Professional Journalism
In moments of crisis, the limitations of citizen journalism become starkly apparent. Professional journalists bring ethical standards, fact-checking, and context to their reporting, ensuring that the public receives accurate, nuanced information. During the Los Angeles wildfire local news stations provided detailed updates, interviews with experts, and verified evacuation instructions – a stark contrast to the LA Times and cable news channels. These reports were indispensable for residents navigating the chaos and for those outside the city trying to understand the gravity of the situation.
Professional journalists also serve as watchdogs, holding authorities accountable and highlighting systemic issues. In the case of the wildfire, investigative reporting shed light on inadequate infrastructure, delayed response times, and the role of climate change in exacerbating fire risks. Such in-depth coverage is beyond the scope of most citizen journalists, who often lack the resources and expertise to dig deeper. These citizen journalist often use conspiracy theories and pseudo science to fill in the gaps.
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
Community Resilience
While social media was inundated with performative activism—posts urging followers to “pray for LA” or share fire-related hashtags—the real strength of Los Angeles lay in its offline community response. Neighbors opened their homes to evacuees, local businesses provided free meals and supplies, and volunteer groups organized donation drives. Firefighters, many of whom worked tirelessly for days, became symbols of the city’s resilience and unity.
These acts of solidarity underscored the importance of tangible action over superficial gestures. While social media can raise awareness, it often fosters a culture of performativity, where the act of posting replaces the act of doing. The Los Angeles wildfire demonstrated that meaningful change requires real-world engagement—donating money, volunteering time, and supporting those directly affected.
One particularly heartening example was the role of community centers and businesses of all sorts, which became hubs for relief efforts. These spaces provided not only physical necessities but also emotional support, helping residents process their trauma and rebuild their lives. Such grassroots initiatives highlighted the power of local communities to step up where institutions sometimes falter.
Bridging the Gap Between Online and Offline Action
The wildfire also sparked important conversations about how social media activism can complement, rather than replace, real-world efforts. When used responsibly, platforms like Twitter and Instagram can amplify fundraising campaigns, coordinate volunteer efforts, and disseminate accurate information. However, this requires a shift from self-centered content creation to community-focused advocacy.
To bridge this gap, citizens need to prioritize collaboration over individual recognition. Sharing verified information from credible sources, amplifying the voices of those directly affected, and using social media to mobilize resources are all ways to make online activism more impactful. Additionally, platforms themselves bear a responsibility to curb the spread of misinformation and incentivize ethical reporting.
BBC News
Moving Forward
The Los Angeles wildfire was a stark reminder of both the potential and the pitfalls of citizen journalism. While it can bring attention to crises in real time, it often lacks the rigor, ethics, and accountability of professional reporting. In such moments, real journalism—grounded in truth and context—becomes indispensable.
Equally important is the power of offline communities to enact meaningful change. The resilience shown by Los Angeles residents in the face of disaster serves as a powerful counterpoint to the performative activism that often dominates social media. By combining the strengths of professional journalism, responsible digital advocacy, and real-world solidarity, we can create a more informed, empathetic, and action-oriented society—one that rises above exploitation and truly supports those in need.
Why Real Journalism Matters – Los Angeles Fires
In an era dominated by smartphones and social media, citizen journalism has emerged as a double-edged sword. While it provides real-time updates and amplifies voices, it can also be exploitative, sensationalist, and misleading. The recent Los Angeles wildfire highlights both the power and the pitfalls of citizen journalism, emphasizing the need for professional reporting and real-world community action over performative online activism.
The Dark Side of Citizen Journalism
As the wildfire engulfed neighborhoods in Los Angeles, dramatic footage flooded social media. Videos of flames licking the skies, residents fleeing their homes, and charred landscapes captured the world’s attention. Much of this content came from ordinary citizens equipped with smartphones. While these posts initially served to raise awareness, they also revealed the darker side of citizen journalism.
Some individuals prioritized viral content over ethical reporting. Often times going out of their way to enter neighborhoods engulfed in flames in their quest for likes, shares, and followers. They trespassed on private property, interfered with emergency responders, and even fabricated stories to make their content more gripping. Sensationalism overshadowed facts, leading to the spread of misinformation.
Additionally, the focus on dramatic visuals often reduced the wildfire to a spectacle, neglecting the human stories of loss and resilience. This kind of exploitation not only deepens the emotional scars of survivors but also erodes trust in media, making it harder for critical, accurate information to cut through the noise.
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The Need for Professional Journalism
In moments of crisis, the limitations of citizen journalism become starkly apparent. Professional journalists bring ethical standards, fact-checking, and context to their reporting, ensuring that the public receives accurate, nuanced information. During the Los Angeles wildfire local news stations provided detailed updates, interviews with experts, and verified evacuation instructions – a stark contrast to the LA Times and cable news channels. These reports were indispensable for residents navigating the chaos and for those outside the city trying to understand the gravity of the situation.
Professional journalists also serve as watchdogs, holding authorities accountable and highlighting systemic issues. In the case of the wildfire, investigative reporting shed light on inadequate infrastructure, delayed response times, and the role of climate change in exacerbating fire risks. Such in-depth coverage is beyond the scope of most citizen journalists, who often lack the resources and expertise to dig deeper. These citizen journalist often use conspiracy theories and pseudo science to fill in the gaps.
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
Community Resilience
While social media was inundated with performative activism—posts urging followers to “pray for LA” or share fire-related hashtags—the real strength of Los Angeles lay in its offline community response. Neighbors opened their homes to evacuees, local businesses provided free meals and supplies, and volunteer groups organized donation drives. Firefighters, many of whom worked tirelessly for days, became symbols of the city’s resilience and unity.
These acts of solidarity underscored the importance of tangible action over superficial gestures. While social media can raise awareness, it often fosters a culture of performativity, where the act of posting replaces the act of doing. The Los Angeles wildfire demonstrated that meaningful change requires real-world engagement—donating money, volunteering time, and supporting those directly affected.
One particularly heartening example was the role of community centers and businesses of all sorts, which became hubs for relief efforts. These spaces provided not only physical necessities but also emotional support, helping residents process their trauma and rebuild their lives. Such grassroots initiatives highlighted the power of local communities to step up where institutions sometimes falter.
Bridging the Gap Between Online and Offline Action
The wildfire also sparked important conversations about how social media activism can complement, rather than replace, real-world efforts. When used responsibly, platforms like Twitter and Instagram can amplify fundraising campaigns, coordinate volunteer efforts, and disseminate accurate information. However, this requires a shift from self-centered content creation to community-focused advocacy.
To bridge this gap, citizens need to prioritize collaboration over individual recognition. Sharing verified information from credible sources, amplifying the voices of those directly affected, and using social media to mobilize resources are all ways to make online activism more impactful. Additionally, platforms themselves bear a responsibility to curb the spread of misinformation and incentivize ethical reporting.
BBC News
Moving Forward
The Los Angeles wildfire was a stark reminder of both the potential and the pitfalls of citizen journalism. While it can bring attention to crises in real time, it often lacks the rigor, ethics, and accountability of professional reporting. In such moments, real journalism—grounded in truth and context—becomes indispensable.
Equally important is the power of offline communities to enact meaningful change. The resilience shown by Los Angeles residents in the face of disaster serves as a powerful counterpoint to the performative activism that often dominates social media. By combining the strengths of professional journalism, responsible digital advocacy, and real-world solidarity, we can create a more informed, empathetic, and action-oriented society—one that rises above exploitation and truly supports those in need.
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