In "The 11 Layers of Citizen Journalism" Steve Outing ponders whether citizen journalism is something which should be used as a popular form of mass communication. If citizen journalism is something that newspapers and media could benefit from then it is questioned which of the 11 layers is the best -- or close to -- the best one.
Allowing public comment on stories, which comes as the first layer seems like a step in the right direction. Allowing comments on stories can not only spark discussion among readers -- and possibly the writer -- but may also help one reader point something out to another through a comment.
The MSU Reporter site allows for comments from readers and many times people take the time to write their feelings toward stories. Though, in other cases readers can take advantage and write unnecessary or ridiculous things.
Skipping to the end of the list we get to the wiki journalist and as Outing puts it, "where the readers are the editors." Like the popular wikipedia, an online wiki news site would not be trustworthy by any means. With the chance that something is always changing there is no way to guarantee that anything you read on the site is true.
As I see it, there is more than one problem with citizen journalists. Yes, they can offer a lot of stories and information that a "real" journalist wasn't able to capture but it may come with a cost. Any person off the street with a notebook and a pen can jot down anything they see or hear, but in their final product they might throw in their opinion or biased views on the subject. Once something of this nature happens it raises the question again about the credibility of the "journalist."
I have to believe there is a reason we journalist majors spend so much time and money in college busting our butt to do study and learn what we do. If any schmuck can can do it then I wouldn't be here wasting my time and energy.
4 comments:
I agree with Ali, that opening up news articles to public comment seems like the most logical step to spur conversation between journalists and their readers. I too, however, have noticed that many times these comments are in no way beneficial to the journalist or other readers, (for example, 3x7r3m3j4ck455).
Hey
I agree that those who put time and effort to their work should be paid for it. When im ready with school i want a good job and what i dont want is someone that has been blogging get the job.
Markus
First of all, do you get an extra point for using Andy as your avatar? You should.
But I don't think any schmuck will ever be able to replace what a true journalist is. A true journalist will always be a trailblazer through the forest of information threatening to swallow us all, the story teller who can make sense of it and give structure to our world.
I think this is a great time to be in journalism. Your role is going to open wide with the ability to use new technologies.
Thanks, Ali, B. Paige and Markus.
"I think this is a great time to be in journalism. Your role is going to open wide with the ability to use new technologies."
I don't mean to be a pessimist here, but if it's a great time to be in journalism and roles are going to open wide, then why are newspapers virtually across the board cutting staff, downsizing, buying people out, etc.? It's seems like it's a great time to be in journalism -- unless you actually have to make a living as a journalist!
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