Media witnessing: journalism and vigilantism

Bearing witness online: How hashtags enabled an uprising in Iran

Paper
Prajakta Athlekar
05/06/2023
15 minutes to read

This paper explores how the fearless citizens of Iran are bearing witness every single day and strengthening the revolution through witness footage, hashtag framing, and authenticity. 

Jumbo's controversial World Cup commercial

The power of social media in news coverage: Jumbo’s World Cup commercial

Article
Femke van Bree
12/05/2023
13 minutes to read

Jumbo's controversial 2022 World Cup commercial completely missed the mark. This case study analyses how the Jumbo’s commercial was picked up in the news, both on social media and in traditional venues, and how it snowballed.

K-pop group Omega X

Omega X: Reporting the abuse of a K-pop group

Article
Femke Pulles
08/05/2023
10 minutes to read

K-pop group Omega X has faced mistreatment by their record label. This paper will analyze the way this issue is reported online in-depth, and the influence of the digital industry and technologies on journalistic practices regarding this matter.

Whistleblowing: Sophie Zhang vs. Facebook

Paper
Lara Lovrič
28/11/2022
10 minutes to read

What can a single individual change by exposing the wrongdoings of a successful multinational corporation? This paper examines the case of a whistleblower who uncovered integrity violations and political manipulation facilitated by Facebook.

Picture of Madeleine van den Nieuwenhuizen

How Zeikschrift exposes and reshapes Dutch media

Paper
Iris Olde Hampsink
11/04/2022
13 minutes to read

This paper discusses the content on the Instagram account Zeikschrift and explores how Madeleijn van den Nieuwenhuizen uses the digital vigilantism practices 'calling out' and 'naming and shaming' to criticize and reshape various Dutch media.

The terror attack on London's Westminster Bridge

Digital vigilantism, Islamophobia and an attack on London

Article
Nathalie Schabio
25/11/2022
13 minutes to read

After London's tragic terrorist attack in 2017, not the perpetrator but an innocent woman breaks news on social media. This article examines how digital vigilantism can distort the truth and unjustifiably punish its victims.