From the Editor’s Desk: Violence in Citizen Journalism

Charlie Kirk, a prominent MAGA activist and adamant proponent of American’s right to bear arms, was fatally shot Sept. 10 while engaging in discourse with college students at Utah Valley University. 

An up-close video of Kirk’s assasination quickly spread through social media. It was a real time example of fast-acting citizen journalism — news disseminated by the general public. Hundreds of viewers were subject to watching something so gruesome, so violent, that no official news site dared publish it on their platform. 

On the same day, a shooter at Evergreen High School in Colorado critically injured two students. Although the event received coverage, its attention paled in comparison to the act of political violence just a couple of states over. 

In the era of technology and social media, it’s more important than ever to think about the content we are publishing — but also the stories we are promoting. As a news source, we have a duty to share fast and accurate information while also considering our audience and what they need and needn’t see when it comes to violent content. 

Citizen journalism can play a vital role in sharing news and has helped greatly with getting information from Gaza into the hands of the rest of the world. Some graphic content, however, is unnecessary and should be censored by private social media platforms.

Outside of citizen journalism, reliable news outlets who provide consistent and quality news are more important than ever. The Loyola Phoenix is committed this year, as they are every year, to providing the Loyola and Rogers Park communities with the news they need each week. 

This edition, read about the experiences of John Felice Rome Center students experiencing first-hand the canonization of the first millennial saint Carlo Acutis, hear a review of the new Kathmandu Cafe near Lake Shore Campus, or learn more about the Men’s volleyball student manager’s role in winning a gold medal with the U21 U.S. National Team.