2. What is CitizenJournalism? The act of a citizen, or group of citizens, playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information. The intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires - Chris Willis and Shayne Bowman
3. Citizen Journalism is rooted in the real lives of citizens and serves the interests of citizens - Douglas McGill (NY Times reporter)
4. A citizen journalist cangive a refreshingperspectiveon a public problem A citizen journalist cangive a voice to smaller communities There is no formal journalistic workflow
6. Qualities & Talents To defend the rights of ordinary people An interest in life and the world around you Always prepared to learn something new Love of language – grammar/ spelling The ability to express ideas clearly and concisely News sense – a nose for news/ ability to separate relevant facts from irrelevant information / identify a news hook A suspicious mind Curiosity
7. Qualities & Talents Determination – be polite but persistent Dedication Friendliness Reliability/ Punctuality Resourcefulness Objective / Fair - Good sense of ethics and what is right or wrong Numeracy Audience Awareness
9. You might have a passion for peace, justice and democracy…
10. You might have a natural desire to share an experience or your knowledge…
11. …but you need to remember that it is always your first job to report as opposed to argue or give opinions Reporting = observing the world and listening to the views of others with an open mind, and then reporting those observations and views as accurately as possible
12. The Importance of Reporting Facts – verified observations Give readers a factually-grounded report Leave the reader with the feeling he knows more about the world and how it works The reader can use the information in your story to become a better informed citizen
13. So… for every article you write, prepare yourself to go out into the world to observe and listen carefully, with an open heart and mind
14. Subordinate your own emotions and beliefs to what you see and hear - record your observations as accurately as you can
17. Which story is more newsworthy? A drunk student was injuredafterhiscar hit a tree last week/ yesterday A donkey in High Street bit itsowner / A man in High Street bit his donkey The mayor / owner of a B&B arguesthatlocalunemploymentfigures are untrue Sunnyside/ Port Alfred has been without water forthreedays
18. News Judgement= ability to determine which news is most interesting and important to your readers
19. Where would you run these stories? Grocott’s Mail / Daily Sun / Mail & Guardian The Dutch governmentcollapsedafterdisagreeingabout the Afghanistan mission A RU professor resignedTuesdayafter winning R5 million in the Lotto A man claims that a doctor tried to curehim of TB bysucking out hisbrain
21. Breaking News Events Scheduled Events Suggestions from readers or family & friends Your own ideas
22. Askyourself… …why are therethree bulldozers in mystreet? …what does thatmean? …how does a camera obscurawork? …whenwill the whole of G’town have water? …who is in charge of ID books? …where do the streetkids sleep?
