HyperLocal Websites: Impressive But Still Lacking a Sense of “Place”

I am playing with some local news websites, which focus on aggregating government statistics, user-generated content, and news from a variety of sources. While these site don’t feel whole yet, they offer some very compelling glimpses into how local news can be covered in the future. Here is a taste of a few of the… Continue reading HyperLocal Websites: Impressive But Still Lacking a Sense of “Place”

MoJo: The Coming of Mobile Journalism

Journalists are finding success with pocket-sized tools that allow them to report on stories from almost anywhere in the world. Reuters is having their reporters experiment with a “mobile journalism toolkit,” which allows reporting in text, audio, video and photos: The Mobile Journalism Toolkit contents, which include a Nokia N95 phone, Nokia SU-8W folding keyboard,… Continue reading MoJo: The Coming of Mobile Journalism

When Citizen Journalists Pay the Ultimate Price…

Professional journalists who cover important, yet dangerous, events, risk paying the ultimate price. In 2007, 124 ” media workers” were killed on the job, many in Iraq. This week, a citizen journalist was killed in Iraq. Major Andrew Olmsted, who has been blogging about his experiences in the war for the Rocky Mountain News, died… Continue reading When Citizen Journalists Pay the Ultimate Price…

Newspaper Threatened by Community Website

Romenesko points us to an interesting story from Montana… A local journalism school has launched a community driven website to cover the news of the local Crow Indian Reservation. This is who is running the site: “It is produced by tribal members, people involved with communities on the Crow Reservation and the Rural News Network… Continue reading Newspaper Threatened by Community Website

Bloggers & Citizen Journalists Reshape Gov’t Control

Jennifer Woodard Maderazo look at how citizen journalists and bloggers around the world are reshaping how we look at journalism within areas of conflict. “Before the web, it was relatively easy for governments to control the information their citizens consumed. A paper could be shut down, and a journalist tried and convicted for speaking his… Continue reading Bloggers & Citizen Journalists Reshape Gov’t Control

Mainstream Media Embrace Citizen Journalism Tools

Josh Catone looks at how mainstream media has embraced the tools of citizen journalists. “It’s interesting to see how the techniques and technologies of amateur, citizen journalists are adopted, co-opted, and integrated by the mainstream media. Take blogs, for example, which earlier in this decade seemed like just an outlet for amateur web publishers. Fast… Continue reading Mainstream Media Embrace Citizen Journalism Tools

Citizen Journalism in Myanmar

Citizen journalism is experienced – in action – during the Myanmar protests. “When traditional methods and professional journalists can’t provide footage, and personal safety allows, citizens rise to the challenge time and again, often with remarkable material,” said Ellana Lee, the managing editor of CNN Asia Pacific in an email. “Even in countries like Myanmar,… Continue reading Citizen Journalism in Myanmar

Remembering How to Play

The coverage of the California wildfires gives another interesting look at how quickly reporting is evolving with the advent of new online tools and communities. What is most interesting is how the lines are blurring between official reporting from major media outlets, and information being gathered and shared from those directly affected and others throughout… Continue reading Remembering How to Play

Does the Online Community Structure Fit with that of Journalism?

Steve Yelvington looks at “Why journalists don’t make ideal online community leaders.” It doesn’t start with your source list A healthy Web community leverages the passions of individuals and activists and chaotic self-organizers, and that’s a completely different world than you’re going to find reflected in your source list. Journalists don’t know how to ask… Continue reading Does the Online Community Structure Fit with that of Journalism?