Yesterday we saw a heroic pilot steer an Airbus plane into the Hudson River saving the lives of 155 people. Many traditional forms of media were not quick to respond.
I first learned of the story via a post from Twitter. Janis Krums posted this message shortly after the plane splashed into the Hudson River. In the span of the next several hours, the photo he took was viewed over 150,000 times and he was interviewed by MSN moments later. Social media is increasing its role in the mainstream world.
That role is (in part) a new form of journalism. News reporters are seemingly late to the scene. Economic woes have caused reductions in newspaper staff and what they can deliver. Journalism needs new ways to send the message.
That new form, Citizen Journalism, is becoming the new way of reporting the news. In short, Citizen journalism is people “playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information.”
The bankrupting newspaper industry should embrace these citizen journalist. They can fill the pages, help the bottom-line – and sometimes, create the best reads in the paper.
Social media is emerging as a credible form of media. It has changed the way we market by putting the power of communication into the hands of the audience. And, the results have been amazing. It has engaged people, started conversations, and made meaningful connections.
Journalism has the same opportunites through social media. Let’s see where they take it.
Tags: citizen journalism, Hudson River, Joe Gauder, journalism, plane crash, social media, Twitter
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January 16, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Nick
Excellent post! Very good points here, Joe. I agree completely that traditional media needs to find a way to embrace the citizen journalist – fast. But holding a journalism degree, I am concerned about the mayhem that could result from the disappearance of ‘professional’ journalism if this isn’t handled well. Mainly with regard to in-depth reporting and behind-the-scenes details that tell why an event occurred. Most citizens don’t know how to dig or don’t have time to dig. If everyone’s reading just the quick, high level stuff without the background, imagine the result. So, yes, citizen journalism is a force to be reckoned with. But I hope the reckoners are swift and wise.
January 18, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Angela
Nick, I would argue that this has already happened. Most people get only the headlines when they get their news, and don’t bother to read/watch/listen to the whole story. They just get the quick blurbs and go on with their day.
January 18, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Joe Gauder
Like the dialogue here. I think it’s a relationship between the press and the public that is evolving. Professional journalist have values and a code of ethics that need to be adopted by ‘citizens’.
Embracing them will infact have a positive spin for media outlets: anything that gets the public more involved with the news helps that organization strengthen its ties with its readers so that it doesn’t lose that all-important connection.
However, there are risks that ‘citizens’ misreport events, are less objective and a fast-developing story that requires caution and skepticism could be lost in a misrepresentation of the facts.
January 19, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Joyce
The news media seems to have come to terms with the citizen reporter, and is courting it openly! For example, CCN.com, FoxNews, and others are asking for input from the public on the Obama Inauguration.
iREPORT.COM. Amped up for inauguration?
Have you made it to D.C. yet? How are you preparing for the inauguration? Share your exciting plans, pictures and video with iReport.
I would think that any citizen received views, photos and video would have to be vetted by a journalist before making it to the airwaves, or newspaper, to cover the liability of the news agency. If it is the opinion of the citizen journalist… MY view of the Inauguration….it should be presented as such.
As in the Airbus on the Hudson, lots of photos and video all coming into newsrooms at once, showing the same events unfold can be easily reviewed for accuracy, and given as a timeline of events as they unfold.
Seems like it would fall on the professional journalist even more to make sure that the story they are reporting on is correct, regardless of the source.
January 22, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Angela
Jeff heard on a podcast that misrepresentation by a citizen journalist recently resulted in the drop in price of Apple stock! Someone mistakenly (or maliciously) Twittered that they’d seen Steve Jobs taken away in an ambulance or something to that effect and the rumor got spread around so much that apparently the price of their stock dropped. I guess that would be a good example of how citizen journalism run amok could be a bad thing.