E-Media Tidbits

In commenting on an item I wrote yesterday, Barb Iverson brought up an important issue: "When the citizen bloggers get over the initial excitement of seeing their work online, and begin to realize it takes time and that they are part of the audience draw, won't they think about getting paid for their work? Are you thinking about micropayments for the best as time goes on?"

The idea of identifying your best citizen journalists and paying them as they continue contributing isn't a bad one. (Such good repeat performers become somewhere in between non-paid citizen reporters and professional staff.) But perhaps a better idea is to pay frequent contributors with goodies like t-shirts, caps, and coffee mugs -- all emblazoned with the brand name of the website, of course.

Think about other incentives, too, like monthly or annual awards for the best citizen reporting or photography. Get local businesses to contribute prizes for the best citizen journalism. Or offer non-cash payments like credit for posting classifieds or display ads on your website. In other words, get creative.

Citizen journalism probably won't work with a "build it and they will come" philosophy. Any media organization wishing to take advantage of citizen reporting/blogging will need to be proactive in recruiting and enticing participants.