At first news companies grouched at the rise of citizen journalism – it hindered journalists’ own plus-value. Then news companies accepted citizen journalism: they recognized its societal development and wished to profit from its qualities. Now news companies encourage citizen journalism, as the BBC announces they will pay for certain user contributions.

BBC staff can now issue payments for footage from cell phones or digital cameras. But "we do not want to give people the impression that we will pay for hundreds of pieces of user-generated content," said Vicky Taylor, BBC's head of interactivity.

Likewise, Britain’s Channel Five recently announced it would pay GBP 100 for any user content it aired.
This could be the beginning of a new era in journalism, one that blurs the distinction – or even reverses the relationship – between news providers and news recipients.

Source: Media Guardian