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The 11 Layers of Citizen Journalism
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Hybrid Journalism Reality
Posted by Valerie West 12/30/2008 11:40:25 AM

Well, No. 9 on your list has happened at The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich. The paper has invited anyone who is willing (not necessarily able) to become a reporter after taking our two-hour course. I work at the paper, and it has caused some dismay among the reporters, myself included. Concerns of libel and objective reporting are among the top of the list, let alone writing and editing abilities. But, even more so, replacing those that have been laid off with uneducated 'reporters' is an insult in itself. If anyone is interested in reading more about what the paper is doing, visit www.theoaklandpress.com and search "Citizen Journalism."

Inspiration
Posted by Bradley Deutsch 7/16/2007 11:50:03 AM

I recently completed a dissertation project at University on citizen journalism, and found this article very useful. I continued the project when I left Uni, and created a citizen journalism website targetted primarily for the UK. I thought readers may find it interesting - www.vocalpublic.co.uk. I'd be interested to hear any views or suggestions anyone may have.

Thanks,
Brad

Young Indian research Journalists starts Citizen Journalism In India
Posted by Dinesh Rawat 1/27/2007 3:06:59 PM

A community news portal www.citizenxpress.com has been laucnhed in india by groyp of young indian research Journalists in december 2006.

The community new portal www.citizenxpress.com is research work of ABC Media Research and Development Center, the research wing of ABC News Network Private limited .This portal is fully dedicated to the cause of citizen involved journalism popularly called CITIZEN JOURNALISM. All news and information have their sources in citizens. They create news and information or witness the news but they have no relevance in news gathering, processing and publishing system of contempory media. The citizen journalism is the voices of all those citizens who are creating or witnessing news and information around them, the citizenxpress is an open platform for all those citizens.

Now a day�s fascinating proverb is being engineered i.e. for all (4 all).like education for all, health for all, justice for all etc but participation by all is no where in their agenda. This gives impressions that all who want to do some thing for all still not willing to relinquish their position of givers. Which always reflect in their actions vice versa. So there is urgent need of a platform, where all will act as givers as well as takers. Flow of knowledge can be from either sides depending on the need and requirements of situation.

Please visit their citizen journalism portal and suggest them for betterment because their are working for us means society for knowledge based society.

Many layers of fun
Posted by Anne Bretts 6/7/2006 10:04:34 AM

At www.northfield.org, we combine news and photos from individuals and groups, blogs from community leaders and ordinary citizens and discussions where everyone gets a say. We just added a part-time editor (me) to help with government coverage and recruiting new entries, but it's mostly driven by the people in the community. We're going to add obituaries next, and we're setting up a political page to test how to be involved in elections.
I have spent years in newspaper journalism and still freelance, but I'd never go back to print. This is far too much fun -- and too meaningful. We help government, business and regular folks talk to each other and work on problems in real time. It's just amazing. We even had a ethics and technology class at one of the two colleges here do a complete evaluation of the site, and the insights of people who have grown up online will help shape what we do next.

Encountering the name
Posted by Jane Abao 5/17/2006 2:36:28 AM

The first time I found myself in iTalknews.com mixing with would-be journalists who do not even know how to construct headlines, much more just blabber about their feelings regarding some events, I said to myself, �Yuck! Why did I have to come here? People don�t even know how to write!� I began editing their outputs and I felt that by doing so, I was also contributing to their attempts at getting published. Much of these were captions of pictures from developing countries and they had a lot to tell. I also found myself wanting to have something published that would never see print in my own country. I am able to do it in iTalknews.com without fear of reprisal. From here, I began to realize the significance of citizen journalism. Before I came to iTalk.com, however, I didn�t know what to call it until I read Poynter�s piece.

I support Citizen Journalism. I am also with those who think formal journalism has its strait-jacket becoming too tight for modern journalism. May I add this: In a country where there are structures that do not permit the voice of some sectors, Citizen Journalism comes in handy � especially in cyberspace.

Guerrilla Journalism
Posted by MICHAEL EKENYERENGOZI 8/27/2005 5:26:19 PM

Citizen Journalism is what I also call Guerilla Journalism.

Citizen Journalism is well defined in Steve Outing's discourse.

I have been a professional Features Editor for main stream magazines and a Production Manager of a business magaine on TV. And now the long years of experience are helping me as a Citizen Journalist with seven blogs. I have the most popular Nigerian current affairs news blog called Nigerian Times. And I am also with Bayosphere.

Citizen Journalism is the future of journalism. Because, the strait-jacket of formal journalism is becoming too tight for the liberalism of modern journalism.

I support Citizen Journalism, because it will help to promote popular democracy and governance. Just like Citizen Journalism was instrumental to the success of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine.

Been doing this at UrbanVancouver.com
Posted by Roland Tanglao 6/28/2005 3:57:44 PM

Free to all Vancouver, BC, Canada related folks. Free blogs, events and photos with all blog posts being automatically promoted to the front page (don't know of any other citizen journalism sites doing that; most have this vetted by an editor). UrbanVancouver.com launched April 2004 and now has over 800 members and is truly Vancouver's community blog.

Email roland AT urbanvancouver.com or call me at 604 729 7924 if you have questions. Steve, love to do a 10 minute podcast with you over Skype when you have the time!

Point taken
Posted by Donald Meyers 6/20/2005 10:38:34 PM

I never suggested that all professional journalists were above reproach. But the Janet Cookes, Jayson Blairs, Jack Kelleys and Kevin Canteras of the journalism world are fired, censured or disciplined somehow. Going back to the Eason Jordan case, nothing happened to the blogger who violated the off-the-record agreement. How do these bloggers police themselves?

citizen journalism models
Posted by Liz Lee 6/17/2005 7:48:05 PM

I'm the co-founder of a national citizen journalism site, www.italknews.com, and thus I found this article of great interest. We've been loosely following models #6 and #10, from Steve's article.

I think the key issue re which model eventually becomes the most popular breaks down to accountability...this relates to ethics, adherence to facts, and simple journalistic writing standards.

While Steve is def. correct in that model #7 (unedited citizen journalism articles) has more legal protection than #6, since technically the site would then just be acting as a "forum" (after the landmark Compuserve case), iTalkNews decided to edit our articles due to above-mentioned journalistic accountability issues. That means we may have fewer articles on the main page of our site than some other sites, but they are generally of a higher quality.

If there are any other citizen journalists out there, would love to know what models you've found best facilitate c.j., and what you think of the thorny accountability issue.

Citizen Journalism: The Movie!
Posted by Lisa Williams 6/16/2005 6:34:57 PM

You guys might get a laugh out of this: Citizen Journalism: The Movie!

it's about upholding the standards
Posted by Ari Soglin 6/16/2005 6:25:16 PM

Responding to Donald Meyers' comments:

I think you're right on target when you talk about "a willingness to commit to standards and practices."

But you lose me when you say: "Granted, there are some bloggers and others who do adhere to some journalistic standards, but others don't, and that's the difference between professional and non-professional journalists."

Some of the pros adhere to journalistic standards and some don't, so I don't think that holds up as a difference between the two.

Stick with judging the work based on how it meets the standards, not who is producing it, and I'm with you all the way.

List of citizen journalism sites
Posted by Lisa Williams 6/16/2005 6:23:12 PM

Thanks for the pointer to H2otown, Anna. I should point out that 1 is also the number of reporters at my town's weekly newspaper, so it's not like I'm outnumbered! Anybody in town can sign up for an account -- they get their own blog and can post their own stories. I love it when other folks in town post their own stuff, and I'm routinely impressed by the quality and seriousness of their efforts. I'd love it if there were more contributors, but slow and sustainable growth is more important to me than a big push for huge readership and participation right now. If it takes a decade that's fine by me. My vision of success is that H2otown is still around after I die.

Cyberjournalist.net has a longer list of citizen journalism sites. I also run an email list for people who run or are interested in local news blogs (Localnewsapalooza.

a little dissent
Posted by Jon Garfunkel 6/16/2005 1:13:39 AM

A decent start, though I dissent with some of the phrasing, and provide some examples where you asked for some.

Pardon the title; my mirth got the better of me:

It goes to eleven: stacking on the clutter of "citizen journalism" analysis

What makes a professional journalist
Posted by Donald Meyers 6/15/2005 9:24:39 PM

For tax purposes, it's the paycheck. But in reality it's a willingness to commit to standards and practices. Allow me to use the Eason Jordan case for example.
When Jordan made his remarks about U.S. troops seemingly targeting journalists, he was speaking in an off-the-record meeting. Professional journalists know this means what's said there stays there. Instead, a blogger decides to break that rule and broadcast it to the world. If I were Jordan, I would be suing the blogger for everything he's worth for breaking the agreement. That's what would happen with a professional journalist, and the Supreme Court has upheld that position.
Granted, there are some bloggers and others who do adhere to some journalistic standards, but others don't, and that's the difference between professional and non-professional journalists.

Real journalists getting real ideas from a real blog
Posted by daily heights 6/15/2005 10:34:45 AM

Just wanted to note that "real" NYC journalists frequently get ideas for their "real" newspaper stories from Daily Heights. It's funny to see something posted on Daily Heights, and then, *bing*, 4 days later, there's an article in the Daily News.

Just happened again today - minutes ago, I got this e-mail from a guy who's trying to jumpstart a multimillion $$ streets improvement project: "Incidentally, the reporter saw the post on Daily Heights from April, and that's where she got the idea for the article: Thanks, Daily Heights!"

Citizen Journalist in in a eye of the beerholder
Posted by Jozef Imrich 6/15/2005 8:08:39 AM

'I was born a citizen of a free state and a member of its sovereign body, and however weak may be the influence of my voice in public affairs, my right to vote on them suffices to impose on me the duty of studying them.'
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The word democracy derives from two Greek words: demos, meaning "the people," and kratos, meaning "rule." Democracy is a way of governing in which the entire body of citizens takes charge of their own affairs. In a true democracy, the citizens are the source of power. Lincoln defined it as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

There can never be a clear-cut, universal definition of democracy. Most definitions of democracy are limited in their focus on qualities, procedures and institutions. Yet democracy can be defined only by the amazing spirit of those who suffered for the idea...

Most of all, democracy is about doing. Without a fountain of proactive citizens (such as journalists, bloggers or those lucky to possess the art of point-scoring and spirit-soaring pub conversation) who are preapred to take care of the fragile (citizen)ship we can never experience the full blossom of democracy. While to expect perfect democracy is not realistic to ignore threats to our democracy is deadly.

The mystery of democracy is how deep the roots of democracy are in so many different cultures. By some amazing miracle, even Hilter and Stalin failed to rip those roots out.

Rules of citizen/blogger/beerlover: Criticize ideas? Yes. Criticize people for holding those ideas? No

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand,
as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven,
we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but
we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

CODA: Deep Blog: Around the world in 80 blogs

#10 please
Posted by Mike Orren 6/14/2005 2:30:21 PM

Hey Steve:

Thanks for mentioning us despite our vapor-status! We're working on our beta right now, and think we'll fit into #10.

what makes a professional journalist professional
Posted by Jenny D 6/14/2005 11:23:15 AM

What do professional journalists do that citizen journalists are not able to do? Is it just that professional journalists get a paycheck from a publisher?

Bluffton clarification
Posted by Steve Yelvington 6/14/2005 11:07:15 AM

Steve Outing cites a population for Bluffton, SC, of 1,600. Before anybody concludes we at Morris have taken leave of our senses for starting a daily newspaper/website combination in so small a market, I want to point out that the city has grown explosively since the last census. We don't really know the true population figure. We're delivering to more than 12,000 households in the Bluffton core alone. There are forecasts of near-future growth that could push that number to 40,000 or so households.

article comments are fundamental
Posted by Ari Soglin 6/14/2005 3:45:21 AM

Great overview of citizen journalism (or whatever we're calling it) as we know it today.

What's amazing to me in 2005 is how few news sites allow article comments. That's Steve's first item on a list that he says starts with the basics.

As a reader, I have an expectation on the web that I will be able to interact, to react to what I read or observe. So, when I read an article but cannot comment, I become frustrated.

What should we call it?
Posted by Steve Outing 6/14/2005 1:50:49 AM

Donald Meyers wrote (below): "I have a problem with this term, in that it implies that somehow a professional journalist isn't a "citizen." ..."

I'm not fond of the term, either, though I chose to use it in this article because I thought it would be clear to people, and because at this point in time it's the most used term to describe this new slice of journalism/media.

But I hope we can settle on a better descriptor of this thing. Maybe grassroots journalism; personal journalism/media. ... I don't have the answer, alas.

I encourage you to also see Staci Kramer's thoughts on this:
http://sdk.typepad.com/trust/2005/06/changing_lingui.html

"Citizen" journalism?
Posted by Donald Meyers 6/13/2005 10:57:15 PM

I have a problem with this term, in that it implies that somehow a professional journalist isn't a "citizen." The last I checked, I enjoyed all the rights and privileges of American citizenship, even though I am a professional journalist.

Since I first heard this term used by Matt Drudge, I presume it's a term the right-wing uses to further suggest that journalists are somehow an evil "elite" that doesn't associate with the masses.

Maybe someone can come up with a better term to describe the practice of blogging and Web commenting that doesn't carry the political baggage or somehow insinuate that professional journalists aren't "citizens."

Watertown Massachusetts
Posted by Anna Haynes 6/13/2005 8:42:46 PM

http://h2otown.info/ is also worth checking out.
As yet it looks like all the heavy lifting on this site is done by a single citizen journalist, Lisa Williams, who could probably use some help.

our college newspaper
Posted by Renata Rollins 6/13/2005 4:48:12 PM

I just graduated from Evergreen State College in Washington State, and our newspaper (Cooper Point Journal) is very much citizen journalism, though I didn't have that term for it until now.

We actually have no reporters or photographers--we have students who coordinate each section's content by reaching out to other students and encouraging students to write the content.

What results is an eclectic publication: the writing is not stellar on most of the pieces, but it is an outlet for students to reach other students and an opportunity for students to see the campus' consciousness each week.

I was the managing editor in 03-04 and the editor-in-chief in 04-05. The two hardest parts about editing a citizen newspaper were:

1) trying to get students confident enough to believe that the information and experiences they had, by virtue of being students at the college, was "news."

2) dealing with comic "artists" whose ideas of comics was putting the most offensive stuff in the paper while still being legal.

All in all, it was a tough, interesting, and valuable learning experience for me as a journalism student, and I think it would be great it more papers did citizen/community sections like the CPJ.

I'm glad I have a name for what we were doing now. I had a hard time explaining to some people why the writing was sometimes not entirely clear or why coverage was kind of spotty. But after reading this article I feel more convinced than ever of the value of this kind of work.

comments examples
Posted by Russell Glitman 6/13/2005 4:15:55 PM

Steve - we've had comments on articles, letters, photos, columns etc... since November at mcall.com. Last week the paper started printing the a selection of the best in the Letters to the Editor section.
Here's what the editorial page editor wrote about the decision to print these:
http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-quote-c-a-ajun06,0,5536414.story?coll=all-newsopinion-nav_2

Reporters use comments for story ideas and follow-up articles as well.

Russell Glitman

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