The concept of ‘citizen journalism’ is based upon public citizens playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, and distributing news. In 2016, the potential for citizen journalism is greater than ever, with evolving technology, social networking, and media-sharing websites. 
Powerful, handheld devices such as iPhones allow citizens to often report breaking news more quickly than traditional media reporters and new outlets.
News is now delivered in a real-time 24/7 cycle – like a Facebook or Twitter news feed.
The following video is of co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington. I believe it gives a good sense of what citizen journalism is, and the role it plays/will continue to play in society.
Ever since the assassination of JFK back in 1963, citizen journalism has been able to provide raw accounts of major events – both good and bad – that are taking place in society.
A more recent example of citizen journalism was the tweets, photos, and videos coming out of Ferguson, Missouri after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown in 2014. It could be said that the impact of citizen journalism in this particular case led to extensive coverage and awareness for not just Brown, but for the social issue of police brutality in the United States.
Eden Joy @ Deakin University 