The NewsMeBack Blog » Citizen journalism

Something new in NewsMeBack Citizen journalism community

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:09:28 +0000

Yes it’s been a while. A lot while. But we have to say it was worth-while.
We had some big action going on for past month in creating better NewsMeBack website and new improved Citizen journalism directory.
We worked hard and slept little but we finally liked results.
Our Citizen journalism directory now has some new stuff, nicer design and more websites listed.
We changed some things and kept some old, already good things.
Now we have four categories :
Global – for citizen journalism websites which write about world news.
Local – for local community websites who write about local news.
Blog – for citizen journalism blogs.
Collaborative – for both, citizen and professional journalism working together.
And of course we must mention our new thing on NewsMeBack website.
We decided to go more local and give our users possibility to write about everything in their community.
Because citizens create their community and citizens are the ones who have the right to say few words on that matter.
So, we have new option on NewsMeBack and that is Cities.
We have long list of world cities, so everyone can pick few of them and read or write citizen journalism news related to that city.
We offer many cities, but that list is still open for some new.
Now, all we have left to do is to invite all the people who are interested in citizen journalism, and those who are just curious, to visit us and take a tour through our Citizen journalism community.
We can invite people who already visited our directory to clear their cache, refresh and see our new looks.
And of course invite new people to stop by and if they like it, then to spread citizen journalism together.
Until next time enthusiastic NewsMeBack team wishes you
All best

One Day On Earth 10.10.10.

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:55:54 +0000

October 10th, 2010.
One Day On Earth project.
Another wonderful idea to involve citizens of the world to contribute and create some sort of time capsule for future generations.
Idea is to connect all people interested in filmmaking, whether they are professionals or citizens to make their own movie about One Day On Earth.
Every day we live on Earth is unique and special. In every country something happens which is similar and at the same time so different when you compare it with another country.
This event will document widest views and experiences people live and see in one day.
Online video archive will get something new and never filmed before.
From your point as a citizen of the world, the way you live and breathe, work, cry or share joy with your people.
Join this onetime, global and uniting event and let the world see your One Day On Earth.

One Day on Earth Participant Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Congratulations to Stroome on Knight Foundation award

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:05:24 +0000

NewsMeBack wants to congratulate our friends from Stroome.com on receiving great award from Knight Foundation.
Stroome showed their value as a citizen journalism platform and their rising importance in media world.
All this was finally confirmed with 200 000$ when Stroome became one of the 2010 Knight News Challenge winners.
Creating interesting and helpful place for all citizen journalists and their work got deserved attention.
As Tom Grasty said in interview with NewsMeBack a month ago when we asked him where is Stroome in the future

Where do you see Stroome in the future?

Clearly you saved the toughest question for last. It’s tough to say. But this much I do know. With a collaborative platform like ours it’s what the community does with Stroome that will shape the future. We’re just the catalyst.

And finally besides wishing them even greater success in the future, we want to congratulate to all other winners.

Citizen journalism in FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:29:38 +0000

It finally started. Excitement, thrill, cheering and competition.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Johannesburg became world sports center and many eyes are pointed in Africa now.
Wonderful working place for citizen journalists. Like in Vancouver, now live from Africa, Johannesburg.
Citizen journalism already showed capability and capacity and now will do it all again. We expect lots of citizen reports, Twitter updates and countless photos of one of the most popular events of the year.
We expect lot from citizen journalism workshops and the training which people in Africa interested in news had chance to take. Now all the skills and knowledge will have their great debut.
So even though many of us won’t get the chance to look this world best football live, we’ll get all information on time.
Fans, critics, viewers will make it even bigger. Citizen audience and citizen media will do their magic again.
And all we have left to say is, we wish to win the best team and good sports spirit.

Top 3 obstacles for citizen journalists and how to surpass them

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:41:32 +0000

In every carrier you have risks. Maybe you’ll think less of some profession, but be sure that there is a challenge in every profession you can think of.
When you compare two carriers, for example, police officer and doctor, you will always first say policeman has bigger professional risk and you’ll may be right. But, on the other hand, doctor has the responsibility to save lives, help and cure.
So, every profession has its own risks and difficulties.
Today I’m talking about top 3 obstacles, risks and dares for people who are or deciding to become citizen journalists.

1) Risks

If you live in undemocratic country then you are certainly affraid and worried for your safety.
People who live in those closed countries know best how dangerous is to write about government and what are the consequences. Meaning of ” eaten by the dark ” is crystal clear to them.
But instead of chasing presidents, senators or criminals, you should write about ordinary things. Leave investigative journalism, crime and high corruption and start searching for some every day events.
Start from little and go towards big.

2) Time

Nowadays we may have almost everything but time. Lack of time is modern disease and main issue everyday.
We always complain how we have not enough time for all our duties and things. Jobs, house, family, hobby, recreation, visits, dating, travel, computer, TV… List is endless. Where to add in that list citizen journalism?
Lets be honest, there is enough time.
If you organize and plan you can always find and make time to realize what you want.
Don’t pressure yourself. Because first great thing regarding citizen journalism is this: do not take it as another obligation, you don’t have to do it everyday.
When you find interesting material, use it.

3) Education

No one will blame you for misspelling few words, because important is to find news and information. Important is to write facts and truth.
Traditional journalists also make mistakes, but they have editors to fix them. Since you are your own editor and if you write in a hurry, then some mistakes are not so dangerous.
Don’t worry, next time will certainly be better because you grow and develop as a person, so you will definitely grow and upgrade yourself as a citizen journalist, too.
Don’t be ashamed of yourself and your education, talent is crucial and final touch in every carrier.

My advice would be : Practice to perfection.

Fwix and The New York Times Company arrangement

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:14:52 +0000

Fwix like a representative of new citizen media and The New York Times Company as a representative of old or traditional media made an agreement to work together.
Fwix, the real-time local newswire, which has 2 years experience in this area will start to distribute its content through all The New York Times properties.
This is one of few cooperation we witness these days.
Mutual work and sharing content now seems to fit for both sides. So in the future citizen news and traditional news will mix and share places.
Since this year made it clear that social media and citizen journalism won’t move and go away, but on the contrary grow and develop more and more, many mainstream media, old media and traditional media offer hand to new media and citizen journalism.
We are about to see new partnerships and arrangements between, once impossible, now compatible news businesses.
I expect more to come.
Anyway, we wish them good and productive cooperation and to readers rich and fresh content.

JanJan closes their website for citizen journalism

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:53:00 +0000

JanJan news started in 2003 and did great job in giving information and news different from other media, thanks to citizens and contributors. After 7 years they are closing.
As we can see nothing can work without money. Not even citizen journalism. Good will, people, sources and hard work aren’t enough in this world.
Crisis hits everyone and everywhere. Big website with great reputation in Japan closes its door. Without enough financial help, advertises and sponsors, once again we have a proof how hard (impossible) is to maintain independence.
How difficult is to make successful thing and keep it alive longer than few years.
But what are we suppose to do? Probably JanJan needed help from some organization, some encouragement and real help to continue their work in citizen journalism.
Readers are disappointed and everybody who finds citizen journalism in Japan needed. We hope they’ll find money in the future and continue their work.

For more information go to JanJan

Cooperation between traditional media and citizen journalism

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:47:59 +0000

These days citizen journalism shows how popular it is. We can find many announcements about partnership among traditional, mainstream media and citizen journalism.
Is it finally coming out an acceptance or acknowledgment?
Yes, one of leading media BBC News will start partnership with Global Voices, citizen journalism website.
It is going to be one of many to come cooperation.
That is great news because we all know that mainstream media can’t disappear and that citizen journalism also won’t vanish. Best for them and for their public is to get together and make even better content.
As executive director of Global Voices Ivan Sigal says:

We’ll be adding citizen media links within BBC news stories, while sharing off-the-radar stories from our own newsroom with BBC editors and reporters.

We wish them success and good work.

Citizen journalism tsunami

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:51:34 +0000

Once again world got a proof how valuable citizen journalism is. After Haiti and their devastating situation as we mentioned in our blog post Citizen journalism like a way to help Haiti, another misfortune occurred.
Chile earthquake brought more trouble to the people. Chileans who gave help to Haiti just days ago now have the same needs. They need water and food and shelters.
But like every bad luck, earthquake wasn’t the only one. Tsunami was a big threat and after a while doubts were justified.
Now citizen journalists come on the scene. Thanks to many people who spread the word about quake, consequences and damage, many lives were saved. Because people were warned on danger and possible after shocks.
While traditional or mainstream media try to deny citizen journalism, it’s obvious to all of us importance of such work.
Technology, which is now almost perfect, really can not only entertain us, but also save lives and become our tool for greater good.
Such is telling to the rest of the planet what’s going on in real time, live. Not waiting for journalists to get there and start reporting or waiting some experts to say their expectations and prognoses. That’s OK, but this is better. It’s more personal when you look at citizens who are participating in whole event, rather than trained journalist whose job is to inform and nothing more. Many of them can’t give that emotion of real life. They call it professionalism.
People like to feel, see actual thing. Because they can feel closer then.

Bleacher Report together with Hearst Newspapers create Local Editions

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:50:51 +0000

As we mentioned few posts ago, What is favorite category for citizen journalists, top or most popular categories in mainstream media and citizen journalism are emergencies and sports. Mainly because those two categories really have happenings all the time.
New ones will get their time and share.
But first thing is first.
Bleacher Report team made an arrangement to collaborate with Hearst Newspapers. Their partnership will be about mutual goal and that is Local Editions. They will use their resources and give their readers as well fans better content and new opportunities.

Like Bleacher Report says in their blog post :

So what’s that mean for you? Well, if you’re a fan living in the Bay Area with something worthwhile to say, your articles may be featured on the Local Edition of SFGate.com in addition to the main page at B/R (and don’t forget about CBS Sports and all our other syndication partners).

Wonderful idea to surpass differences and that mainstream vs citizen media relationship.
I am certain that this is one of many to come collaborations, and very successful, too. New way to satisfy fans, users and readers and to save newspaper.
In optimistic manner both teams will find out how it’ll all work and will become an example of good communication.
We wish them success.