CJR Daily: Archives

This brief looks at "participatory journalism" as in the phonecam reports from the London Tube bombing that made their way to print or broadcast in MSM and "citizen" or "civic" journalism. Points to agree with:

• MSM has always used citizen photos or other eyewitness reports (Rodney King, Zapruder film, etc.)
• The analogy to "Citizen comedy" is a good one, in that it makes clear that there are elements, even if we don't list them all, that distinguish the "folk on the street" from a professional.

Points to question:

• That citizen journalism consists of solely an unedited blog or an unedited newsite

The hybrids, like Yourhub.comand Ohmynews.com and others where a "citizen journalist editor" edits copy, helps shape and even suggests stories, and writes stories, too, for the publication is one of the most robust models. It is not an "either/or" proposition. The future of news is going to consist of quality investigative reporting from brands we know, skillfully used and slightly edited citizen stories, and pure "eyewitness" footage, images, or audio that will supplemented by commentary or traditional reporting.CJR Daily: Archives