BBC will pay for citizen journalism

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on November 17, 2006 at 11:15 AM
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

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3 Comments

Now that's pretty cool. I wonder if it's global?

mian Iftikhar Ahmad said:

Mian Iftikhar Ahmad
Faisalabad
Pakistan
0092-321-6681663

Danny L. McDaniel said:

Why the BBC would pay citizens journalist for their work is beyond me. Most are "wannabes" and would do a better job for free. Citizen journalists have produced some very good pieces and some are now apr with the professional, but it is the makeup of the piece that worrys me. Important things like sources and accuracy that define true jourmalism go by the wayside with some. It is if they think that is the problem with professional journalism.

Danny L. McDaniel
Lafayette, Indiana
USA

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