When you want to report about some event or anything interesting you see or hear, best thing to avoid half-information or possible missinfoming is to write what you certainly know. It’s better to have one real true sentence than eight unconfirmed.

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.