For all those folks who want to be citizen journalists, YouTube has launched the Reporters’ Center, a channel with pointers from journalism pros, including Katie Couric and Bob Woodward.
With the explosion of new media and technology, we’re seeing average citizens turning into roving reporters, snapping up videos and photos of newsworthy events as they unfold. CNN’s iReport is the most obvious example of this phenomenon. But, it’s happening at news outlets — big and small — across the country.
As Dan Gillmor notes in his book “We the Media,” news can no longer “lecture.” People want to be part of the conversation, and for those news staffers who think otherwise, your audience has plenty of other places to turn for information. Average citizens now have the power in their hands to be part of the newsgathering process.
