The Trends of the Libyan Academic and Media Elites toward the Eyewitness as a Reporter: A Field Study
, Vol.5
, Fourteenth Issue
PP:31
Authors:
Prof. Dr. Abdin A. Sharif -Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication,,Faculty of Arts,Zaytuna University- Libya
Abstract:
This study belongs to a descriptive research. Its main question is:"What are the trends of the Libyan academic and media elites toward the eyewitness as a reporter. The study gains its importance from the contemporary subject which is about the role of the eyewitness in the mass media, and from the scarcity of studies around it.The study aims at determining the role played by the eyewitness in forming, guiding, mobilizing and inciting public opinion to overthrow the political regimes in the countries of the so-called Arab Spring. The study raises the following questions: Can the eyewitness replace the professional reporter in covering wars and conflicts? Is the media profession has become vulnerable to parasites? Does what the eyewitness says affect the standard of credibility in publishing or broadcasting of the news? To what extent can the eyewitness be accepted as a reporter to cover events? Is it possible to dispense with a professional journalist?
This study has used a survey method by distributing a questionnaire as a tool to collect data from the study sample that consisted of some Libyan university professors and Libyan journalists working in various Libyan mass media. The study revealed the following results: most of the study sample agreed that the eyewitness is a reporter. It also showed that the eyewitness was neutral in his transfer of the events of the revolutions. It also indicated that relying on the eyewitness, in times of crisis, was necessary to cover the events of the possibility of war. The study also revealed that most of the respondents agreed that the eyewitnesses not familiar with media legislations and therefore cannot be a partner or one of the media production elements. Furthermore,the study revealed that it is not possible to dispense with a professional journalist no matter how the role played by the eyewitness in the transfer of the events of what is known as the Arab spring revolutions.
Key Words:
The Trends, Academic and Media Elites , Eyewitness .
Research Language:
Arabic
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