Between Arab spring, Royal wedding, Japan tsunami, UK riots, Occupy movement and so on, list is really too long, citizen journalists built their skills, ethics, experience and connections.
It was actually fascinating to see how citizens can climb in media from unwanted phenomenon to a necessary one.

As much as democracy was on the test, worldwide, it was the people who gave their best to coordinate, cooperate and communicate with each other and the rest of the world. Some communities showed their strength, some initiative.

When their democratic rights as citizens and humans were denied, like Internet ban or iPhone use ban, they managed to find the way out. They acted as professionals. And those are the actions which the audience appreciated.

Also, numerous new platforms were launched, inviting and gathering citizen journalism crowd. Some schools and Universities decided to include both social media and citizen journalism as part of their new educational program. New organisations from all around the world train and teach people how to join and become part of this amazing thing called citizen media.

But when we look back I suppose we all remember those breaking dangerous situations. This year has no lack of them.

And speaking of it, we all wish to start next year with better events, happier and stronger.

Good thing is that we already expect Olympic Games in London 2012 as one of crucial events for citizen journalists. Their skills and presence will be of great importance. So we can hope and wait some amazing citizen journalism Olympic coverage, like it was during Vancouver Olympics 2010 and FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa. Major sports events that bring together sports fans and give place citizens to highlight their talents during the games.

We have all the reasons to hope and look forward next year.

Because citizen journalism family is growing, rapidly.

It is also great when they tell you this. Or when they get involved, by praising you or criticizing.

Both are welcome.

First colleague website which gave us support was Periodismo Ciudadano from Spain. They were among first who wrote about our Citizen journalism directory in their post.

After that, in the meantime between then and today, we got boost from social media and other citizen journalism websites and blogs, but most recent we wish to mention now.

One month ago our blogger friend, and also a member of our website, Lisa, wrote a blog post about our website on her own blog. It was great for us to see that she liked it and found it useful. She recognized it as a good place to stop by and share her posts. And she invited other bloggers to join.

Considering that bloggers represent important part of citizen journalists, we are very happy to see that we reached their interest and attention.

And after that, another great thing happened yesterday. Which we absolutely must share.

Just while checking our profile and videos on YouTube, we bumped on a video about our website, uploaded on Oct 2, but made by someone else. An unknown supporter.
It was a bit of a cool surprise. And quite a mystery.

Video lasts five minutes and describes in detail each and every step on our website, its purpose, how it works… Everything.

And also mentions our social media profiles, citizen journalism blog and directory, and the way visitors can search it.
All that in Spanish language.

Video is great, in our totally biased opinion, and shows our website and directory at their best.
So, besides being completely astonished, we are also proud and thrilled with this amazing surprise.

This is our way to say thanks to our unknown friend for wonderful presentation and promotion.

Gracias

P.S. If anyone has some interesting idea how to surprise someone in this digital age, please share and leave a comment.

For example if you take a picture of something and you are not sure about details but you want to have some text besides photo when you put it in public, best is to write what you know for sure, like where this happened, what time it is and things like that.

If you write more and claim those information before checking, than you are not only spreading rumors but you can make damage to other people. Instead of doing that, better be modest but trustworthy. Readers will appreciate this quality more.

If you are an amateur you don’t have to be unprofessional.

This may not sound logical but it’s true. Person does not have to be trained for every single thing before doing it. Enough is to have serious and dedicated approach and wish to give your best. Like I already wrote in my previous posts, education is not crucial for doing citizen reporting.

But mostly when people who dislike citizen journalism talk about it their key reason for proving citizen journalists shouldn’t be present in media is that famous saying – citizen journalism is like citizen surgery, would you like to be operated by citizen surgeon? Besides this one there is the one about who can write and spell and mostly again citizen journalism opponents say that citizen journalists are more than often illiterate.

I’m wondering why do they think that professors, students and other educated people, but without journalism degree, do not like and sometimes do citizen journalism.

So, back to beginning, if we do something for the first time we should do it, learn on our mistakes which are unfortunately unavoidable, but great as training and continue with learning more. People can overcome unbelievable obstacles if they have right stimulus.

Being professional does not require 20 years of experience as a guarantee. It requires commitment and thoroughness.

No sensationalism.

Sensationalism is great, fabulous and well – sensational.
But sadly very often one-time interest.
Everyone wants to be sensational at least once in a lifetime. In work or life. That moment may come but not for sure. And it is a moment. People forget about it.

Things that are not that sensational but long lasting have more value. They really last long. If you win the trust of the readers, they like your work and believe in your words, that is more valuable than one-day hystery over half-true news.

Luckily for humankind things like devastating fires, earthquakes, tsunamies and floods don’t happen every second so we can’t rely on them as certain news which will draw huge attention. Using everyday details from our environment is skill and capability to impose yourself as citizen journalist who notices everything and gives right information.

These are some basic tips for making citizen journalism easier and more acceptable. Attractive thing with citizen journalism is that we don’t need preparation, it comes spontaneously and it’s available for everyone.

Question is do we forget on Internet today or we still regularly, every day, check on our online friends and their news? Is our summer online activity lessen or not?

I’ll divide into two periods – before Internet and now and try to find the answer.

Before Internet and social networks, holiday meant just great time and fun. Having fun with your parents and friends.
Traveling and visiting places was cool and camera recorded the memories which we later showed to our close people. But during the holiday we used to enjoy in it and remember every detail we liked. We used to absorb every single thing and then retell. We relied on our memory.

Now we rely on technology more.
Now, we enjoy in holidays but in a different way. Sometimes – read for sure, we think more about taking a clip or photo instead of just enjoying in moment. Trips became more than free time, pleasure and relaxation, they have become personal travel guides which we share online.
I have no problems with that, I quite enjoy because you can see and inform yourself from others experience about every destination.
What worries me is whether we forgot to just relax and do one thing only – enjoy our holiday?

There are many of us addicted on online content and social media. We start and end our days with it. So, normally we bring it too on our holidays.
And instead of looking around for some place to chill out we, in panic, look and search Internet and our gadgets, chargers and batteries. More than often we miss all the good stuff while we mess with good angle and lights for the shot.
That is modern traveling. Lots of accessories and tech involved.
But is it healthy?
Is it OK to chat with our online friends while we are on the beach, or should we just forget on social media for those 10, 15 or 30 days ( if you are lucky ) ?
Will we lose all of them if we just simply disconnect ourselves and say nothing or we have to inform them about our absence. And when we go away do we have an obligation to check in?

On the other hand, should we stay blind and pretend we see nothing and hear nothing because we are on vacation while near us is happening some spectacle?
Or should we take our camera, embrace our technology age, be citizen journalist and share it on social media?

Imagine yourself as one of flight passengers who saw space shuttle launch while you were on your way to some holiday destination. Wouldn’t that be a waste of moment and resource if you looked aside and skipped sharing that info through video and photo with your online friends and wide audience? It’s just practicing some vacation citizen journalism.
That sounds as perfectly normal choice. We are not guilty for living in an age overwhelmed by technology. Why should we then leave it aside?

So many questions, every valid on its way. Who can decide which option is right?

Balance is the key. To keep balance between free time and online constant never ending life. But for doing that, to be completely honest, it takes a lot.
One has to become a wizard.
And never forget to have fun!

Her name is Neda Agha-Soltan.

Neda’s tragic death, recorded on camera, shocked entire world and opened many forbidden questions. Her youth was turned off before our eyes and since that no one could stay indifferent to those same riots and many new ones which came after.

Neda became symbol of strength and courage, symbol of change and democracy.

Her wish to stand up for justice and fair elections cost her most valuable thing she had – her life.

That is why we remember her and mention her impact on worldwide every day battles for democracy.

Young people are mostly those who carry the spark of revolution in their hearts and minds. Their spirits aren’t still diminished by certain difficulties which we meet in life, some certain compromises which often take our best parts, our dignity and in many cases freedom.

And what every prosperous society needs are free and open minded citizens. Citizens who know and differ right from wrong.

Citizens like Neda, girl who entered Iranian, but also world history with her bravery and persistence, following equity and greater good.

So this is our way to say that we respect and remember her – Neda Agha-Soltan.

View Death of Neda Agha-Soltan and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.

Today citizens of the world should show they care about their environment. We should show that we know about climate change and that though we spend our resources sometimes carelessly we are prepared to slow down and change. And we should participate in global
project called Earth Hour.

View Earth Hour and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.

Every additional explanation is unnecessary. Important question is will you do it?
Will we do it? Are we selfish or we think on greater good?
This is wonderful idea, a grassroots movement, one of few, that makes the world united in wish for better future and preservation what we need so much.
In our time, today, we depend on electrical power, we need it on everyday basis.
Our houses, work places, hobbies and lifestyle depends on it. So we should show more awareness and rationalization on this issue.
Maybe the best way is to imagine how would it look like if we lose it, how would it affect on our lives. How would it be to not be able to make morning first coffee, breakfast, to listen morning news, take a shower with cold water or use computers.
Now, when we look at this issue from this angle, turning off your lights today for an hour and turning off unnecessary lights every day is not that hard.