Citizen Journalism

Dan Gillmor blogged The citizen-journalism movement is one of the great opportunities for the radio/TV news folks, because a new generation of audio- and video-fluent people will supply more material than we can comprehend today. Much -- most -- will be garbage. So what? The good stuff will be a vital part of how people see and understand the world.

We'll see and hear it one way or another, whether via a truly bottom-up method like video blogs or peer-to-peer networks. Yet established media can, and I believe must, embrace the emerging citizens media.

Mike Manuel blogged While participatory media is still arguably in its early stages, it’s hard to argue that enabling technologies like blogs and podcasts haven’t already delivered a swift back handed slap to the print and broadcast radio gatekeepers. Without question, there are tectonic shifts underway with respect to media consumption – some folks get this, others are fighting it and some just don’t have a clue – those who can adapt quickly, however, will dodge the next wind up because like it or not, another big slap is coming folks – this time right out of the TV.

Heather Green blogged I thought it was encouraging to read Dan Gillmor's post on how broadcast journalists are starting to get the grassroots movement. News gathering is richer and more pertinent when it brings in first person and eyewitness accounts. And citizen journalism is such a powerful force for helping inform the public, which is what most good journalists want to do. Sounds sappy, but it's the truth.

I am not trying to play down how hard it is for established media outlets to get their heads around citizen journalism. But along the lines of what Dan wrote, there are good signs that the smart established press outlets are sussing this out. Just check out what MSNBC and the News & Record are doing.

What's amazing is how much easier it's becoming this year for TV and radio broadcasters to dive into checking out video blogs and podcasts. With services like Ourmedia.org that help people publish and store videos and audios online, broadcasters now have a digital library of creative works at their fingertips. It's a great introduction into the different types of videos and do it yourself podcasts that people are creating. I am convinced these kinds of services will spur more traditional broadcasters to adopt citizen reports.

Trevor Jonas blogged NBC=National Blogcasting Corporation - Word on the street is that NBC is toying with the idea of getting its top anchors involved in the blogosphere. According to a Reuters article tonight, we could soon be reading what Brian Williams, Katie Couric and others at NBC think about the latest news, issues and current events.

Andy blogged Fred Wilson in his A VC blog also tackles a similar question in his entry "The Truth About Online Canibalization." He is particularly looking at the internet's impact on print media. Another excellent entry. I believe that blogging will have similar results on the print industry. It allows for a new guerilla marketing techinique. Using the online network of bloggers, a good idea or concept can spread quickly to reach thousands of online readers in a short period of time. If you attach a product to this, such as the likes of Seth Godin, it can create the exposure needed to create positive sales growth.

The concept of Citizen Journalizm is very interesting. We reported earlier this month about Bluffton Today, and today we talked about the cover article from Business Week. BW is also starting its own blog. I dont know where it will all go, but it should be a very interesting trip.