BY-NC 2009 will be remembered for a lot of things. We're only half way through the year and it already feels like history has tried to cram a decade worth of action into the final reel of the Aughts.
One thing that won't be forgotten is the emergence of citizen journlaism as a force to be reckoned with. It was only a matter of hours into the year before a major story- the shooting death of 22 year old Oscar Grant in Oakland- would become the first of many to be shaped by the actions of non-professional reporters. Other dramatic examples in the form of the Hudson River landing of Flight 1549 and the uprising in Iran have signal a major shift in how news and information are shared around the world.
The best part of citizen journalism is that anyone can be a reporter: if you're at the right place and right time, that is.
Deciding where to post your on-the-scene video, investigative reporting, or stirring photo essay can be trickier. To that end we're assembling this guide to the world of citizen journalism resources and outlets, to help you get heard in the roaring thunderstorm that is 21st century media.
YouTube's CitizenTube and Reporters' Center
[Speciality: VIDEO.]
YouTube is the granddaddy of user-generated media. However when you think of ye olde YouTube the first thing to come to mind is a sneezing panda or a dose of Chocolate Rain. Everyone knows that real reporting might be happening on YouTube, it's just that finding a story worth paying attention to amongst the 20 hours a minute of video that is uploaded on the site can be... well the math speaks for itself.
This is where CitizenTube and the new Reporters' Center come into play. The CitizenTube channel and its sister blog exist to cast a spotlight on user submitted news footage. In the wake of the Iranian election CitizenTube became a clearing house for footage of the unrest. The Reporters' Center is offered as a resource for those who want to become better at being citizen journalists, featuring interviews with and tips from major media figures like Katie Couric, Arianna Huffington, Bob Woodward and Tavis Smiley.
[Speciality: PHOTOS.]
Emerging as a serious force thanks to being spotlighted by the New York Times during the current crisis in Iran, Demotix is a UK-based citizen journalism blogsite. Specializing in photos and print, user generated content can be sold to mainstream media. Most of the work is done by amateurs and non-journalists. As of now, most of the site's headline coverage is on the Middle East, specifically the Iran Election.
Demotix is especially good for you if you’re looking to get money for your photos. The site has connections to major media organizations and will sell the rights to your photos in exchange for a 50% cut. You still retain the copyright to your pictures despite selling the rights for other sites to use your pictures. This is a great site if you want to get paid for your exercising your freedom of speech.
[Speciality: VIDEO.]
iReport is CNN's foray into the user-generated content field. A response to the Al Gore fronted Current TV (see Part II), iReport turns to CNN's vast audience for help in finding eye witness footage of breaking news like the Virginia Tech massacre and the 2007 Mississippi River bridge collapse. Contributors are not paid, but their work may be featured on CNN itself.
Reports submitted to the iReport website are "Unedited. Unfiltered." as the program's tagline states. However before a story can be broadcast on the cable network CNN producers check the facts for accuracy.
Glossary Term of the Day: Creative Commons.
Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization that works to increase the amount of cultural, educational, and scientific content are available for free use by the public. Creative Commons licenses are a tool that CC provides that protect a content creators rights while allowing others to repurpose, remix and/or share that work without money having to change hands. Without Creative Commons licenses the Internet as we know it would cease to exist, becoming a rather bland looking place.
Coming in Part Two: Ground Report, Current, and HuffPo's Eyes and Ears.
Reporters Rachel Krantz and Kelly Chau contributed to this report.
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