Steve Outing at Poynter has written an informative piece for editors and publishers confused about the citizen journalism buzz and how to go about using it for the benefit of their publications. Noting that many are skeptical about the emerging phenomenon, Outing eases fears with an explanation of what he calls "The 11 Layers of Citizen Journalism." Beginning with the basics, Outing explains that many papers are initially hesitant to even open up their columns to reader comments, "an imperative characteristic of citizen journalism." This being the first step to getting accustomed to having non-professional material published on their pages, editors should slowly work towards recruiting readers to add content to professional columnists' content. Readers with certain specialties or experiences will add value to a reporter's article of a similar topic. A few steps down the line, editors should open up their newsrooms to their public, making their news process transparent, regaining trust among readers. Eventually a purely citizen journalism site should be launched, the next logical step being a mixed professional/citizen journalism publication, be it online or print. An example of this model would be Korea's OhmyNews. Finally, Outing invokes the "wiki" model the Los Angeles Times is about to test (see previous posting) with its editorial page. The Wiki model allows anyone to post an article online which anyone else can edit, theoretically ending in an unbiased and well-informed "collective intelligence" article. Although Outing advocates this model, he also warns that, "Going this far with citizen journalism will take some guts -- and a change in thinking. It means moving far down the continuum of journalist-reader interaction, allowing an unprecedented loss of control of the editorial product."
Source: Poynter
Steve Outing at Poynter has written an informative piece for editors and publishers confused about the citizen journalism buzz and how to go about using it for the benefit of their publications. Noting that many are skeptical about the emerging phenomenon, Outing eases fears with an explanation of what he calls "The 11 Layers of Citizen Journalism." Beginning with the basics, Outing explains that many papers are initially hesitant to even open up their columns to reader comments, "an imperative characteristic of citizen journalism." This being the first step to getting accustomed to having non-professional material published on their pages, editors should slowly work towards recruiting readers to add content to professional columnists' content. Readers with certain specialties or experiences will add value to a reporter's article of a similar topic. A few steps down the line, editors should open up their newsrooms to their public, making their news process transparent, regaining trust among readers. Eventually a purely citizen journalism site should be launched, the next logical step being a mixed professional/citizen journalism publication, be it online or print. An example of this model would be Korea's OhmyNews. Finally, Outing invokes the "wiki" model the Los Angeles Times is about to test (see previous posting) with its editorial page. The Wiki model allows anyone to post an article online which anyone else can edit, theoretically ending in an unbiased and well-informed "collective intelligence" article. Although Outing advocates this model, he also warns that, "Going this far with citizen journalism will take some guts -- and a change in thinking. It means moving far down the continuum of journalist-reader interaction, allowing an unprecedented loss of control of the editorial product."
Source: Poynter
Steve Outing at Poynter has written an informative piece for editors and publishers confused about the citizen journalism buzz and how to go about using it for the benefit of their publications. Noting that many are skeptical about the emerging phenomenon, Outing eases fears with an explanation of what he calls "The 11 Layers of Citizen Journalism." Beginning with the basics, Outing explains that many papers are initially hesitant to even open up their columns to reader comments, "an imperative characteristic of citizen journalism." This being the first step to getting accustomed to having non-professional material published on their pages, editors should slowly work towards recruiting readers to add content to professional columnists' content. Readers with certain specialties or experiences will add value to a reporter's article of a similar topic. A few steps down the line, editors should open up their newsrooms to their public, making their news process transparent, regaining trust among readers. Eventually a purely citizen journalism site should be launched, the next logical step being a mixed professional/citizen journalism publication, be it online or print. An example of this model would be Korea's OhmyNews. Finally, Outing invokes the "wiki" model the Los Angeles Times is about to test (see previous posting) with its editorial page. The Wiki model allows anyone to post an article online which anyone else can edit, theoretically ending in an unbiased and well-informed "collective intelligence" article. Although Outing advocates this model, he also warns that, "Going this far with citizen journalism will take some guts -- and a change in thinking. It means moving far down the continuum of journalist-reader interaction, allowing an unprecedented loss of control of the editorial product."
Source: Poynter
According to the Associated Press , editors from about one in four newspapers who responded to a recent survey forbid reporters from using anonymous sources. Most other editors said they at least have policies designed to limit the practice. One editor even claimed that his paper’s policies would never have allowed Deep Throat, the man who recently revealed himself as the source behind the US Watergate scandal, to be a source. The practice of using anonymous sources, meaning sources that speak to reporters on the condition that their identities remain undisclosed, has been questioned recently, most notably in the case that prompted Newsweek magazine to retract a story (see former posting) . The Associated Press and the Associated Press Managing Editors Association jointly surveyed American newspapers to better understand their policies. The project, thought to be the most comprehensive of its kind conducted in recent years, drew replies from about 28% of the nation’s 1,450 daily newspapers. Most dailies that do allow use of anonymous sources are based in large cities and have operating bureaus overseas or in Washington, where sources often request anonymity. Those that have tight restrictions on anonymous sources permit it only when someone could lose his job out of retribution, or to protect the identity of a rape victim, illegal immigrant, or someone suffering from an addiction.
Source: Associated Press
