Archive for the ‘citizen journalism’ Category

Citizen Journalism and YouTube & Other Video Sharing Sites

YouTube, veoh, blip.tv, revver, and other video sharing sites play a huge part in citizen journalism. They allow anyone to upload videos. These videos can be whatever the person wants. Everyday people are uploading videos featuring news from their town. They are also making their own short TV like episodes.  Move over Martha Stewart, YouTube has thousands of videos showing people how to cook and makes crafts.  Thought bob Villa was the one to turn to when you needed DIY instruction, well think again. icanlearnanything.com is about to launch a new platform the will house tons of videos people have uploaded to teach you the steps it takes to complete a task.

Video sharing and social network sites have lots of citizen journalist reporting the news, and current events in their area. Want to find out about the candidates running for president, check out the videos offered on YouTube. People are expressing their views on everything from music to politics. See first hand accounts of the fires in California. These are videos you will not see on your local news station. They are from people experiencing the events first hand. You can find reviews of games for the XbOX, or the Wii. Looking to buy a new computer, check out YouTube's  product review videos. Never has a website made citizen journalism so easy.

How you can Contribute to YouTube as a Citizen Journalist

Shoot a video about something you liked or disliked and then upload it for the world to see. Have a chance to interview someone famous, or a political candidate you can share the video on YouTube. You could start your own news videos. Take video from current events in your neighborhood, or capture video from a breaking news story in your town. Does your town have the next up and coming band? Take some footage of them playing and post it to YouTube. Maybe they will be the next big thing.

Is there a movie being shot in our town? Interview some of the crew members, or if you are lucky get a few words in with the stars. a big show like american Idol coming to your town, interview the waiting hopefuls. Did you catch something funny on video? Upload it to YouTube for everyone to enjoy.

YouTube gets millions of hit’s a day to the website. You never know who will  be watching your video.

People are interested in different types of news. If you know someone that is interesting, or they have a special skill interview them. are you planning a vacation? Take some video if the sites and attractions you visit. Take video of the hotels you stay at. Were they a good place to stay, or did you have a bad experience? People are always looking for reviews of vacation destinations. They want to know that they will enjoy the trip.

Have fun and be creative when making your video. When doing a product or service review always give your honest opinion. Even if it is a negative one. Would you want to waste your money on junk? Then upload your video to YouTube and get the word out.

Photo credit: Pollyalida

Citizen Journalism: Having the Right Tools

If you want to become a citizen journalist you will need to have the right tools available. These tools are things that most of us already own. Lets look at some of the tools needed to successfully be a citizen journalist.

Cell Phone

a cell phone is a must have for a citizen journalist. The cell phone can be used to get calls about a breaking news story. Many cell phones have built in cameras. These cameras can be used to take pictures to go with your story.  Some cell phones offer the option to record video. This can make capturing  a news story simple. When choosing a cell phone look for one that includes a camera. Consider the option of connecting to the internet with the phone. This can allow you to post pictures and video of breaking news events sooner. Some cell phones give you the option of recording voice. This could come in handy for interviews, or for you to remember something later on.

If you can get a phone that works with the Qik service, you'll be able to report vial video live from the scene anywhere in the world.

Digital Camera

Digital cameras have come along way. When they first came out the high cost deterred most people. Now you can get a decent camera for under one hundred dollars. Digital cameras can make picture taking a breeze. They  take great quality pictures. Transferring the pictures to the computer is done with a few clicks of the mouse. Some of the digital cameras have video recording capability. When looking for a digital camera you will be looking for the higher mega pixel. The higher the number the better the picture quality will be.
anything over four or five mega pixels will give you a good picture. Getting a camera with a dock can making charging the batteries easier. It also allows you to transfer the pictures to the computer with a click of a button.

Video Camera

If you are interested in video blogging you may want to consider investing in a video camera. Prices have  came down tremendously over the past few years. You can find a decent video camera for around two hundred dollars. Video cameras have different formats that they record the video to. There is the video tape that every one is familiar with. There is also cameras that record straight to DVD. another option is video cameras that take digital video. These types of cameras are more expensive but easier to use when transferring the video to a computer. You just have to decide what features are important to you.

The tools you need for citizen reporting can cost as little, or as much as you are willing to spend. There is no required tools. These items just make reporting news easier to do. Having pictures and video to include with your news  story make it easier for the readers to relate to it. Having the right tools with you, such as a cell phone, will allow you to get a breaking news story anywhere it happens.  This is the difference between regular journalism and citizen journalism. Citizen journalist use everyday technology to capture a news story while regular journalists have to depend on their camera crews.

Photo credit: Robert Kennington

Citizen Journalism: Having the Right Tools

If you want to become a citizen journalist you will need to have the right tools available. These tools are things that most of us already own. Lets look at some of the tools needed to successfully be a citizen journalist.

Cell Phone

a cell phone is a must have for a citizen journalist. The cell phone can be used to get calls about a breaking news story. Many cell phones have built in cameras. These cameras can be used to take pictures to go with your story.  Some cell phones offer the option to record video. This can make capturing  a news story simple. When choosing a cell phone look for one that includes a camera. Consider the option of connecting to the internet with the phone. This can allow you to post pictures and video of breaking news events sooner. Some cell phones give you the option of recording voice. This could come in handy for interviews, or for you to remember something later on.

If you can get a phone that works with the Qik service, you’ll be able to report vial video live from the scene anywhere in the world.

Digital Camera

Digital cameras have come along way. When they first came out the high cost deterred most people. Now you can get a decent camera for under one hundred dollars. Digital cameras can make picture taking a breeze. They  take great quality pictures. Transferring the pictures to the computer is done with a few clicks of the mouse. Some of the digital cameras have video recording capability. When looking for a digital camera you will be looking for the higher mega pixel. The higher the number the better the picture quality will be.
anything over four or five mega pixels will give you a good picture. Getting a camera with a dock can making charging the batteries easier. It also allows you to transfer the pictures to the computer with a click of a button.

Video Camera

If you are interested in video blogging you may want to consider investing in a video camera. Prices have  came down tremendously over the past few years. You can find a decent video camera for around two hundred dollars. Video cameras have different formats that they record the video to. There is the video tape that every one is familiar with. There is also cameras that record straight to DVD. another option is video cameras that take digital video. These types of cameras are more expensive but easier to use when transferring the video to a computer. You just have to decide what features are important to you.

The tools you need for citizen reporting can cost as little, or as much as you are willing to spend. There is no required tools. These items just make reporting news easier to do. Having pictures and video to include with your news  story make it easier for the readers to relate to it. Having the right tools with you, such as a cell phone, will allow you to get a breaking news story anywhere it happens.  This is the difference between regular journalism and citizen journalism. Citizen journalist use everyday technology to capture a news story while regular journalists have to depend on their camera crews.

Photo credit: Robert Kennington

Citizen Journalism Video: Giving an Unbiased Story

Everyone has their beliefs and opinions. People feel very strongly about their beliefs. Sometimes it can be difficult to write a story as a citizen journalist without making it one sided. They do not want to hear that their beliefs are not correct. They do not wan to acknowledge that others can be right too, even if they do not agree with your point of view.

When writing a story you need to have an open mind. It is fine to give your beliefs and opinions, but you also have to give the other side of the story. If all you do is write an opinion piece without a place for readers to leave comments your writing career will be over before it has begun.   

To produce an unbiased piece you will need to put your beliefs and opinions behind you. Gather facts from both sides of the topics. Interview people who are for, and against your topic. This will make the viewer feel like you are open to other people's views. If you are only giving your opinions, viewers may not come back to watch anymore of your work. If you want to develop a following you will need to learn how to write unbiased articles.

Citizen journalism is all about everyone having their chance to speak on what they feel is important. Let’s say you are doing a short film on your town wanting to combine their three elementary schools into one. a person writing a biased story would pick a side and write about why the other side was wrong. Writing an unbiased story means writing about the pros and cons of both sides. What benefits will there be. What problems could arise as a result of the new school. Then you can state which side you are on, and why you feel that way. Next ask your viewers to share how they feel about the subject. This is a perfect example of citizen journalism in the works.

being unbiased can be hard when you feel very strongly about a subject. You just have to remember as a citizen journalist you have to put your views aside. Telling the story is more important than coming off as an arrogant know it all. Every person deserves to have a voice. Everyone will not agree, it is just human nature. Lets review the steps it takes to write and unbiased script for a citizen journalism-based video.

1. Gather facts and research from all sides of the topic.
2. Interview people who can give both the pros and the cons for your subject.
3. Give the viewers a chance to give their views on the topic.
4. If you give your opinion do not say it is the right one. Remember it is just an opinion.

It might take some practice to learn how to write an unbiased short film. Learning to keep your emotions out of the film can help. Keep writing, filming, directing and editing and you will learn to tell both sides of the story without injecting your opinions throughout. Unbiased film making will keep the viewers coming back.

Photo credit: videohaiku

Cell Phone Citizen Journalism

News happens all around us everyday.  Did you ever think your cell phone could be a tool in capturing the news? Well it can. Cell phones are loaded with technology. This technology allows you to capture news. Most cell phones include a built in camera. The cell phones are capable of connecting to the internet. Some of these phones are able to record video. These are all great tools to use in citizen journalism.

Citizen journalism is typically made up of people with no formal journalism training. These people simply want to change the way news is presented. They  can do this by using their cell phones to get the news. Lets say you are walking down the street and you see a house or building on fire. You see the fire trucks are there already. You decide to take some pictures of the fire. Next you see the fire men bringing people out of the structure by use of a ladder. Your cell phone is capable of taking video so you record some footage of the heroic rescue. The next day you are writing in your blog about the burning house. You decide to share the pictures and the video. This is a form of citizen journalism. While you may have no professional journalism training, you are still sharing news with your blog readers.

Cell phone technology is improving with each day that passes. Soon cell phones will be able to do everything you could need. Lets say you are out shopping and there is a book signing at the local bookstore. You spot a famous author. after waiting in line you get your chance to meet the author. You use your cell phone to snap a few pictures. Some phones are able to record voice. You ask the author if they would answer a few question. Record the answers to your cell phone. Now you have an interview with a famous author. The same thing could apply to any famous or important person you encounter. Now you can post the interview online on a blog or other website. Newspapers are always looking for citizen journalists to share stories.

Cell phones can be used in many ways when it comes to getting a news story. You can take pictures at an event or activity you attend. Then write an article describing the day, and include the pictures. Find a place to post it online, and you are sharing your news with the world. If you are witness to a crime or an accident make sure you capture it with your cell phone.

always make safety a first priority when capturing a news story. Do not put yourself in harms way to get a better picture or video. Citizen journalism does not require you to put yourself in danger to share the news. Simply snapping pictures of local tourist attractions with your cell phone and posting them online on  a photo sharing site is a form of citizen journalism. Your news story does not have to be major news. It could be something as simple as a new store opening in your neighborhood. Citizen journalists cover stories that big news outlets  do not want to bother with. They might not seem important enough , but they are news worthy to someone.

Photo Credit: Kb35

Cell Phone Citizen Journalism

News happens all around us everyday.  Did you ever think your cell phone could be a tool in capturing the news? Well it can. Cell phones are loaded with technology. This technology allows you to capture news. Most cell phones include a built in camera. The cell phones are capable of connecting to the internet. Some of these phones are able to record video. These are all great tools to use in citizen journalism.

Citizen journalism is typically made up of people with no formal journalism training. These people simply want to change the way news is presented. They  can do this by using their cell phones to get the news. Lets say you are walking down the street and you see a house or building on fire. You see the fire trucks are there already. You decide to take some pictures of the fire. Next you see the fire men bringing people out of the structure by use of a ladder. Your cell phone is capable of taking video so you record some footage of the heroic rescue. The next day you are writing in your blog about the burning house. You decide to share the pictures and the video. This is a form of citizen journalism. While you may have no professional journalism training, you are still sharing news with your blog readers.

Cell phone technology is improving with each day that passes. Soon cell phones will be able to do everything you could need. Lets say you are out shopping and there is a book signing at the local bookstore. You spot a famous author. after waiting in line you get your chance to meet the author. You use your cell phone to snap a few pictures. Some phones are able to record voice. You ask the author if they would answer a few question. Record the answers to your cell phone. Now you have an interview with a famous author. The same thing could apply to any famous or important person you encounter. Now you can post the interview online on a blog or other website. Newspapers are always looking for citizen journalists to share stories.

Cell phones can be used in many ways when it comes to getting a news story. You can take pictures at an event or activity you attend. Then write an article describing the day, and include the pictures. Find a place to post it online, and you are sharing your news with the world. If you are witness to a crime or an accident make sure you capture it with your cell phone.

always make safety a first priority when capturing a news story. Do not put yourself in harms way to get a better picture or video. Citizen journalism does not require you to put yourself in danger to share the news. Simply snapping pictures of local tourist attractions with your cell phone and posting them online on  a photo sharing site is a form of citizen journalism. Your news story does not have to be major news. It could be something as simple as a new store opening in your neighborhood. Citizen journalists cover stories that big news outlets  do not want to bother with. They might not seem important enough , but they are news worthy to someone.

Photo Credit: Kb35

Citizen Journalism Websites

Citizen journalism websites allow everyday people to contribute stories on whatever they want to. This could mean a recap of a  local town hall meeting, or an upcoming event schedule. Some of the citizen journalist websites edit the submissions. Others do not and keep the article the same way it was submitted.

These websites give the everyday  person who enjoys expressing their opinions a chance to do so. If they feel strongly about a topic they can share it with the world.

Citizen journalism websites are made up of people from all backgrounds. Most websites like this are divided into several categories. This makes navigating through the website easier. a reader can expect to find  a lot of small town local news. This is great for people who have moved away from their hometown. It allows them to keep informed with what is going on.

Pictures are a big thing on citizen journalism sites. People will share pictures from events they have attended. They may share pictures of family, or their pets. Editors of the site can request pictures and articles about specific events they know are coming up. Some contributors to citizen journalism sites share video footage they have captured.

Not all the material on a citizen journalism website will be interesting to everyone. One might find articles about  a child’s sports team, or cub scout troop. These type of articles are limited to a smaller audience. Some people enjoy just writing about daily occurrences in their life. While things like this would be better suited for a blog, some people do not want the responsibility of writing something on a regular basis. They may just enjoy writing when the mood strikes them. Citizen journalism websites make this possible.

articles on websites like this may be full of spelling and grammar errors. This can hurt the reputation of the website. Readers might not take anything on the site seriously. This can be helped by editors checking all the submissions before they are put onto the site. a few mistakes are not going to hurt, but every other word misspelled will. Changing an article to much though will ruin what citizen journalism is all about. The purpose of citizen journalism is to allow non professional journalists to be able to write.

Citizen journalism sites are a great way to get people involved in a cause. Editors can post topics they are looking for articles on. These topics could include charities, politics, recipes, etc. Making special sections like this can keep the site interesting enough that readers continue to come back.

When breaking world news is happening citizen journalism websites are a great place for people to share pictures and stories of what happened. They might have first hand reports to share. The same can be said for smaller news stories that the news outlets are not interested in.

Citizen journalism websites are becoming more popular. They allow people to share news, and things important to them. It gives an everyday person without professional journalism training the ability to write, and a place to publish it.

Citizen Journalism Websites

Citizen journalism websites allow everyday people to contribute stories on whatever they want to. This could mean a recap of a  local town hall meeting, or an upcoming event schedule. Some of the citizen journalist websites edit the submissions. Others do not and keep the article the same way it was submitted.

These websites give the everyday  person who enjoys expressing their opinions a chance to do so. If they feel strongly about a topic they can share it with the world.

Citizen journalism websites are made up of people from all backgrounds. Most websites like this are divided into several categories. This makes navigating through the website easier. a reader can expect to find  a lot of small town local news. This is great for people who have moved away from their hometown. It allows them to keep informed with what is going on.

Pictures are a big thing on citizen journalism sites. People will share pictures from events they have attended. They may share pictures of family, or their pets. Editors of the site can request pictures and articles about specific events they know are coming up. Some contributors to citizen journalism sites share video footage they have captured.

Not all the material on a citizen journalism website will be interesting to everyone. One might find articles about  a child’s sports team, or cub scout troop. These type of articles are limited to a smaller audience. Some people enjoy just writing about daily occurrences in their life. While things like this would be better suited for a blog, some people do not want the responsibility of writing something on a regular basis. They may just enjoy writing when the mood strikes them. Citizen journalism websites make this possible.

articles on websites like this may be full of spelling and grammar errors. This can hurt the reputation of the website. Readers might not take anything on the site seriously. This can be helped by editors checking all the submissions before they are put onto the site. a few mistakes are not going to hurt, but every other word misspelled will. Changing an article to much though will ruin what citizen journalism is all about. The purpose of citizen journalism is to allow non professional journalists to be able to write.

Citizen journalism sites are a great way to get people involved in a cause. Editors can post topics they are looking for articles on. These topics could include charities, politics, recipes, etc. Making special sections like this can keep the site interesting enough that readers continue to come back.

When breaking world news is happening citizen journalism websites are a great place for people to share pictures and stories of what happened. They might have first hand reports to share. The same can be said for smaller news stories that the news outlets are not interested in.

Citizen journalism websites are becoming more popular. They allow people to share news, and things important to them. It gives an everyday person without professional journalism training the ability to write, and a place to publish it.

Citizen Journalism: blogging for a Cause

Everyone has causes they support. Whether that cause be pro-life, aLS, breast cancer or some other cause. blogging is a great way to get the word out. Getting others involved by making them more knowledgeable will help your cause immensely. You are also helping with citizen journalism by spreading the word to others about your issues that you have strong convictions about.

In your blog you can include all the latest research and news pertaining to your cause. Include some historical background and why you feel so strongly about it. You can also take the citizen journalism one step further and include video interviews with others who support the movement. Maybe your cause is breast cancer awareness. You can include interviews with survivors of breast cancer, or people that currently have it. Tell there stories of how the disease changed their life and better yet, their stories of success.

When blogging about your cause tell others what they can do to help. Is there a fund to support research? Let others know about any events that relate to the issue. Link to other blogs that are supporting your cause. blogs can reach millions of people so make sure it is filled with the information they need to give support that is needed.

Tell the readers where they can find more information such as books, or articles that they might find helpful. Most importantly when blogging let the readers leave your page feeling like your cause is one worth fighting for. Have a section for readers of your blog to leave comments. They may know of further research that could benefit your cause.

also, be prepared as some causes will cause controversy. Everyone will not feel as strongly as you do. Some might leave negative comments on your blog. Do not let these get you down. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions, even if they are not the same as yours.

Citizen journalism allows people from all over the world to express their views. People in different countries might do different things to support their causes. blogging is an effective platform to use to find out about these ways.

If you attend functions or events for your cause post pictures and videos. This shows the reader that there are real people behind the blog.  Make your reader feel your passion for the cause. Some people could be on the fence about an issue you feel strongly about, and your blog might be the deciding factor in the direction they choose.

What ever the cause you are blogging about make sure you feel passionate about it. If not the reader will pick up on your lack of enthusiasm and may not return to your blog. The more readers you can get to return and subscribe the more people that will be aware and supportive of your cause. by making your blog informative and personal you will be on the path to developing a reader following.    

blogging about a cause is an effective use of citizen journalism because readers get news with a personal touch that are no available on traditional news websites.

Photo credit: Elvert barnes

Citizen Journalism: blogging for a Cause

Everyone has causes they support. Whether that cause be pro-life, aLS, breast cancer or some other cause. blogging is a great way to get the word out. Getting others involved by making them more knowledgeable will help your cause immensely. You are also helping with citizen journalism by spreading the word to others about your issues that you have strong convictions about.

In your blog you can include all the latest research and news pertaining to your cause. Include some historical background and why you feel so strongly about it. You can also take the citizen journalism one step further and include video interviews with others who support the movement. Maybe your cause is breast cancer awareness. You can include interviews with survivors of breast cancer, or people that currently have it. Tell there stories of how the disease changed their life and better yet, their stories of success.

When blogging about your cause tell others what they can do to help. Is there a fund to support research? Let others know about any events that relate to the issue. Link to other blogs that are supporting your cause. blogs can reach millions of people so make sure it is filled with the information they need to give support that is needed.

Tell the readers where they can find more information such as books, or articles that they might find helpful. Most importantly when blogging let the readers leave your page feeling like your cause is one worth fighting for. Have a section for readers of your blog to leave comments. They may know of further research that could benefit your cause.

also, be prepared as some causes will cause controversy. Everyone will not feel as strongly as you do. Some might leave negative comments on your blog. Do not let these get you down. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions, even if they are not the same as yours.

Citizen journalism allows people from all over the world to express their views. People in different countries might do different things to support their causes. blogging is an effective platform to use to find out about these ways.

If you attend functions or events for your cause post pictures and videos. This shows the reader that there are real people behind the blog.  Make your reader feel your passion for the cause. Some people could be on the fence about an issue you feel strongly about, and your blog might be the deciding factor in the direction they choose.

What ever the cause you are blogging about make sure you feel passionate about it. If not the reader will pick up on your lack of enthusiasm and may not return to your blog. The more readers you can get to return and subscribe the more people that will be aware and supportive of your cause. by making your blog informative and personal you will be on the path to developing a reader following.    

blogging about a cause is an effective use of citizen journalism because readers get news with a personal touch that are no available on traditional news websites.

Photo credit: Elvert barnes