New design, new look.

Adam Baker, Blottr founder, commented:

“The latest version of Blottr underlines the commitment we are making to both our audience and our community of citizen journalists, which has grown to become the largest in Europe. With this in mind, you will see an increased focus concentrated on big topics, taking a deeper dive into issues that affect us all, be it in the areas we live or world issues impacting our lives. The power of citizens from across the world collaborating together to expose news that would likely otherwise fall below the mainstream radar is hugely exciting, yet also necessary in the increasingly transparent world we live in ”.

Building their reputation with breaking news, all popular topics and events which marked media today like Occupy movement or London riots, Blottr earned their high place in citizen media sky.

Their new design is fresh, modern and attractive, so we can only give them our congratulations for successful work and invite everyone to visit Blottr and become one of their numerous contributors. Blottr has so much to offer.

Adam Baker added:

“Blottr has provided the platform for a wealth of fantastic writers, with strong personal opinions on many different topics, to reach a broad audience compelled to read their thoughts. We will be rewarding our most influential contributors with their own columns, which we believe delivers the most interesting, unbiased view of current affairs in the UK today, written by the people, for the people”.

Good job Blottr team !

As Andy Leff, Meporter CEO, describes his project :

Meporter is a local mobile news desk that allows citizen journalists to report, update, and read local news as it happens from their mobile phone. We have some really cool location based features allowing Meporters to check in to news stories when on the scene and winning badges for reporting breaking news. Here is a short video on how it works:

We were first only on iPhone iOS when we launched in May 2011 but we have now just released our Android App in public Beta which can be downloaded here

So the Android App was released on September 9th 2011. Users of the Android App can expect a similar experience to our iPhone app and will be able to post local news and events as they see them from their Droid phones and Tablet devices. The layout is similar to the iOS version except for a new home screen that is consistent with other Android Apps. We have been slammed with emails from people all over the world asking about when the Droid app would be released so we now finally have an answer for them. We welcome all user feedback as it helps us create a better experience and product for future releases.

We invite everyone to check out this new Android App by Meporter. And of course enjoy in doing citizen journalism.

Not only that citizen journalists proved their value and covered news unreachable to best of the best reporters and members of traditional media, they also took breaking news in their citizen hands in a large percentage.

Although some would think that citizen journalism won’t be related to breaking news we can constantly see the opposite.

Breaking news quickly draw professional journalists but first who take the picture, video or share it on social media is usually citizen journalist or freelance photographer. This does not apply to all but very often first news we hear from citizen journalists and not traditional media.

It is raw and rough but it is first and fresh. The way people like news.

That is kind of symbiosis between citizen journalism and social media all for better and faster reporting.

During the Arab protests as we already wrote in our previous blog posts citizens were the only journalists present in several countries and they were the only bypass for media. In these crisis situations citizens showed they are capable of acting as professionals.

And it is very important to know that public can trust and rely on citizen journalism news.

Things that get our attention happen daily, mostly bad.
Like today. Terrific bomb attack in Oslo. Gun shooting, too. People got killed, hurt. Horror for entire Norway, and the world.
Shock and disbelief will be replaced with sorrow and searching.

Country needs all the help and support it can get. Media is one of keys for helping. Social media and citizen journalism are here to assist.

Citizens who were present there already shared their first impressions online, on social media. Some official media used those photos for their reports. Once again with assistance and cooperation public will receive best information and have a look at the situation.

And hopefully offer help.

C – citizen. We are all citizens of the world. Hence there is our qualification for doing citizen journalism. Entire idea of this phenomenon lies in that one word which we receive by birth. Who could ask for more.

I – information. Besides being a citizen one should be interested in information, both receiving and giving. Information is driving force of citizen journalism. Without it there wouldn’t be any track of whole informative system, no material for processing.

T – truth. Very important part, assuming one wants to do citizen journalism right. Truth is an imperative. Searching, discovering and presenting the truth is the aim of every serious citizen journalist.

I – initiative. Taking an initiative, taking matters in your own hands is what citizen journalism can offer. One should not keep attractive data or details for himself. Initiative is what makes you great citizen journalist because you are the one who told others what’s new.

Z – zero. Citizen journalism requires zero doubt. One mustn’t doubt in own capabilities, skills, importance. Everything is news today. Do not doubt. If a person wants to do citizen journalism then there is no place for too deep self-analysis. Accept your decision and do. We all start from point zero.

E – enter. Enter the mysterious world of news. Entrance is free and has so much to offer. Again, this is for people who like media and journalism area. The moment one enters this space and becomes part of it from another side, reporting and news look so different. Citizen journalist discovers new routes and real way of news circulation.

N – news. News are exciting, fresh and everyday thrill. All around us, just wait to be spotted and reported. This is the age of news. If possible to say so – new news. Citizen journalism news. Actually news became more accessible and available. For citizens who love to follow news stories, update and participate in the process this is the subject to be occupied with.

J – journalism. Journalism is not reserved only for professional, college degree journalists. Today we have all kinds of journalism starting from traditional – mainstream, online, digital and why not – citizen. Depends on which angle one looks at it, but quality journalism is a final goal.

O – online. Online journalism is very important part of journalism in general. It became one of leading media today. New way of presenting and receiving news. Very attractive for both users and presenters. Online journalism is also very closely related to citizen journalism. They make a great modern, digital informative team.

U – use. Citizen journalists first have to learn to use technology and data. Use of technology gives them an opportunity to do citizen journalism and proper use of data ( things they see and hear everyday ) makes them successful.

R – report. Reporting news is what journalists do. Today, reporting is what every citizen can do. With good, fresh information citizen journalist can reach headlines and break the news. Like an agency.

N – neighborhood. For citizen journalists beginners it is best to start reporting from their own neighborhood. It is familiar terrain, issues and people. You know best what’s going on near you. And you can tell it to the audience in most natural way.

A – activity. More active is what one becomes as citizen journalist. Online and in real life. Activity is reflected in learning more, meeting new people, maybe even traveling. So, one must be an active member of society as a participant in creating the look of the media. Faster pace is a side effect.

L – local. Local community is what you need to get involved. If you are not already. Local communities are an excellent source of information for citizen journalists. Everything you need is in your local community. You do not have to look further.

I – internet. Internet is the force which made all this possible. Thanks to it citizen journalism became more popular and acceptable to general public. The Internet is a place of emergence of new media and it has enabled us to grow and develop entire information system.

S – social media. Social media is almost an online cousin to citizen journalism. Numerous citizen journalism news were shared exactly through social media. They function best together as tandem.

M – media. Media is a playground. Everyone who wants to deal with news, events, information, reporting, covering, printing and editing comes to media. Citizen journalists too. The media is a starting point and last stop. News arise and end there.

First, and most clear, is motive.
Motive is to report and present news to audience.
Both citizen and traditional journalism have this same motive. To find and, as soon as possible, share certain event or news with the rest of the world. Wider = better.
By all means their methods don’t have to be same, training, education and funds, but motive is absolutely identical and in my opinion presents parallel number 1.

No less obvious would be parallel number 2.
Speed. To be the first one. To break the news.
Second parallel is definitely very important, if not crucial, today. We are all used to know everything now. Live. In the present. So for this one citizen journalism has much to offer to traditional journalism as filling the gap.
Capturing a moment is easier for an accidental passerby. Simply because there are not enough professional journalists in the world to cover every piece of the Earth. Citizens are more numerous. And better distributed.

Next parallel would be credibility.
Rare are those, on both sides, who report false news. Now, earning credibility is harder than losing it. Reporting real news is what makes one journalist confidant.
So accuracy and truthfulness are also common for every professional and citizen journalist who wants to do proper job. Who wants to report and be recognized for his great work and for being trustworthy.
And that is a parallel for sure.

Another one is free and successful media.
Journalists are well aware of free media importance. Citizen journalists likewise. Both sides advocate the freedom of press and information system through their work. Point to the failures and the successes. Incomplete democratic media are not beneficial to any side of journalism, traditional or citizen. Only in free media journalism can develop and grow, so as the citizens.

To conclude, traditional – citizen journalism parallels exist. It’s all up to get the best from both. To create new age, modern media with a wider range and more comprehensive.

1 – It maybe sounds odd but you should become citizen journalist because you will be more informed

2 – If you come from small town or community you can promote it by writing about interesting stuff and issues from the scene

3 – You’ll get the chance to say what you have to huge number of people

4 – You can make a difference, become famous and point out on some maybe forgotten things

5 – Perfect way to use privilege of living today in Internet era

1 – This might be confusing statement and not making that much sense to you – possible, to be citizen journalist but I assure you it’s true. If you become citizen journalist, you’ll report, write, post, update and share your news, photos or videos.
You’ll see different events, hear and cover some topics or just post something unusual. But that way you’ll collect new information. Therefore you’ll inform and be informed. And if you are really news geek or some kind of news – info fan, well becoming citizen journalist is a dream come true. Opportunity to enter media area and gather so many fantastic daily updates, learn new things and give into pleasure of being in the course of events.

2 – If you live in small town, city, community and you are used to hear news about your place only when/if something huge happens, like some scandal, important political tour or aliens visit, then you are the person who should become citizen journalist. Mainstream media usually don’t find small local communities that attractive to write about them. There are always some other breaking news and headlines to cover and report.
But people live both in large and small cities. And interesting things , important for local districts happen all the time. Maybe not so often like in metropolis, but still… So, if you become citizen journalist of your city, you can write and inform your fellow citizens about issues that concerns you, not other continents. No matter how attractive and amusing is to know what happens on the other side of the world, when something happens in your neighborhood, it concerns and affects you, not so much the rest of the world.

3 – To be able to address several thousands of people ( assuming that you don’t have stage fright ) in the past, it took years, lots of cash and still you couldn’t gather them all at once in the same place. Today, you can say what you want and if you are saying something interesting, you can be sure that million people will read, listen or watch you.
Audience is what every citizen journalist wants and gets depending on his work. Considering that citizen journalism is broad term it’s certain that every subject and news citizen journalists report will get its audience.

4 – Recently there are more and more citizen journalists who became really popular and recognizable worldwide. All of them were ordinary citizens who captured the moment. Being citizen journalist requires nothing, no special degree or equipment, just basics and good timing. Citizen journalists are those people who were at the right place in the right time and no one else forestalled them. They were the first present and prepared to see and share. That’s how many historical changes and events happened in past few months. All assisted and guided by citizen journalists. Those guys really made a difference and left their mark in modern history.
So, if you have desire to become famous, besides singing, dancing and acting, you can present yourself as citizen journalist. And do so much for others.

5 – Today we live equally online and real life. We share real situations online with our online friends and acquaintances. Today is digital age with once unthinkable technological possibilities. All of them available to all, more or less. Perfect for future citizen journalists. When you look today list of places and gadgets to use you can conclude it is long as eternity. Social media, everyone’s favorite, blogs, websites, forums … Every single citizen with some idea or information can share it and be citizen journalist. If you like to gossip, if you are curious and like to share small talk with neighbors, why waist your time when you can use this talent and share it with the world. There are so many networks and tools to help you.
You live in modern Internet era and you can post whatever you find important and interesting. It doesn’t have to be breaking all the time. Everyday news are enough. You should take the chance and become citizen journalist.

Because you can.

If citizen journalist reports about some event which is really interesting, he can easily show up on the front page of all media. And then event itself comes easier to the readers because today media have more space and wider range to present it. But comparing to potential number of citizen journalists there are less professional journalists.

Citizen journalists can take role of professional journalists if they report some event which is of general interest and professional journalists are not present in the moment of happening – on the scene. Of course that trained journalist would describe that event with more facts and probably better than citizen journalist, but if he wasn’t present at the event why losing a news.

Commenting on the recent event related to space shuttle Endeavour we can say that presence itself and will to record something can bring that specific moment to large number of people and therefore to official media. Stefanie Gordon is a citizen – passenger who had enough fortune, and iPhone by her side, to be on the flight which enabled her to take one of a kind unique photos of space shuttle Endeavour’s launch. On her Twitter account Stefanie posted her photo and video. All that went viral and brought her huge popularity, so as many contacts with mainstream media.

That she didn’t record, this clip and photos would not exist. And that would be a pure shame.

It would be absurd not to use today potential of digital media in creating content and greater width of news and information.
So citizen journalism is a matter of moment and not investigation.
And the media are here to report and confirm the veracity of event based on the actual situation.

Citizen journalism must constantly receive verification of correctness from traditional media which is in fact some kind of symbiosis. Ideal for ultimate user is cooperation between these two types of journalism. No exclusion.

As for not so breaking news concerning only some local community but coming from citizen journalists, without interest from big media, there are a number of citizen journalism websites where it’s possible to post those news.

Another way is to live and make your own rules. To be the only responsible for both, success and failure, to carry all burden by yourself and whenever you can avoid asking for help, favor or similar things. Or at least keep their individuality at maximum level.
That’s being independent.

It starts with becoming independent from your parents and continues with work. Considering that most of us mix or better to say intertwine our work with our lives, free time and other interests, I was wondering is it possible to be independent journalist and how would it look and function.

I suppose no profession is completely and totally independent. You have to share at least one thing with someone.

In journalism it’s different. It can actually be ” one man show “.
Because now one person can be journalist, independent, without crew, organization and other side effects. We call them freelancers and citizen journalists.

First category is independent in sense he can work for various organizations but without certain commitment to one. That is not complete independence in my opinion.

Second category is citizen journalist who is totally independent, with of course huge friendly help of social media. This combination allows more work freedom than any other way of journalism. All you need is your own talent, skills and necessary gadgets – tools.
This digital journalists do not depend on media organizations or press, editors and newspapers.

But is it absolute independent journalism after all?
Citizen ( possible journalist ) is depending on some factors, but on which?

He depends on himself, his personality, his limits.
Depends on what he approves or disapproves, what he considers good or bad, what event he sees as positive or negative.

We all look at things with different, our, eyes.
What’s nice for me is ugly for you, maybe.

Conclusion would be this – citizen journalist can depend on his capability to detach himself from events, on perception and
objectivity.

Also social media can be good ally, but that requires to communicate with other fellow users which leads to some kind of dependance.

Bottom line is independent = citizen journalism is largely possible but has few challenges.

We think that promoting other websites and their online presence can improve whole picture and increase number of citizen journalists and positive competition among websites.

As ultimate goal we see better quality of citizen journalism and media.
We excluded rivalry and jealousy because in online, digital world of news and media there is no place for those emotions.

Citizen journalism directory is our wish to ease potential bloggers and future citizen journalists or ordinary users to find in one place plenty of citizen journalism websites and all their basic data.

At this moment our directory contains 128 websites from all around the world.

Many call themselves global and worldwide, but there are local, too.
Besides US, where most websites are based, we have other countries and their citizen journalism representatives such as :

Jordan, France, UK, Bali, Singapore, Canada, Thailand, Pakistan, Chile, Ukraine, India, Jakarta, Australia, Nepal, Germany, Korea, Spain, Italy and Sri Lanka.

When we look at this our map we can see that citizen journalism became popular in many countries and hopefully will be even more. New events give us hope for that.

After this introduction all we have left to do is invite you to suggest more citizen journalism websites and we will be more than happy to add them and expand this directory.

Until then enjoy in citizen journalism.