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By
the People,
For the People
By Shannon Burke
Some of the first videos, pictures and descriptions of the destruction that followed major events such as Hurricane Katrina, the explosions on London's mass transit system, or the tsunami in Indonesia were not from the lenses or pens of professional journalists. Rather, witnesses with video recorders, camera phones and online blogs were the main sources of information following the blasts. A recent study of a unique program at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism shows that this new type of reporting is successfully turning ordinary citizens into working journalists.
These are just the latest examples of how “citizen journalism” is changing the face of how news is covered. Conventional media outlets, such as television stations and newspapers, increasingly are offering opportunities for viewers and readers to submit their own stories, pictures and experiences about major news events.
Clyde Bentley, associate professor in the
MU School of Journalism, helped launch MyMissourian.com
in October 2004. The print edition of MyMissourian launched on
Oct. 1. The Web site and its printed version serve as the citizen
journalism outlets of the Columbia Missourian daily newspaper.
Bentley recently completed a case study on MyMissourian's successes
and failures since its inception.
Above is a screen capture of the front page of the MyMissourian
Web site.
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“Citizen journalism turns the traditional news model on its head,” Bentley said. “The citizen is the news gatherer and writer, rather than the source, for a news story. The journalist is a 'shepherd' in the process, helping take the reported news and making sure it is dispensed in a readable format that does not violate standards of decency or libel.”
Bentley notes that MyMissourian editors adhere to several rules to determine what is suitable to post — no nudity, profanity, personal attacks or attacks on race, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation.
Bentley said the Civic Life section of MyMissourian
is the most popular section of the Web site. People have discussed
everything from a proposal to ban smoking in local restaurants
to the death of Columbia Police Officer Molly Bowden. The success
of the Civic Life section taught the editors of MyMissourian an
important lesson, Bentley said.
“Readers and potential contributors are not interested in a rehash of events and issues that are already covered by the city's other news media,” Bentley said. “Rather, they are interested in issues that go largely ignored on the nightly news.”
Clyde Bentley, associate
professor in the School of Journalism, says that many MyMissourian
readers are interested in issues that are largely ignored
on the nightly news.
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That interest has contributed to the success
of the Spiritual Life section of MyMissourian. Bentley said that
since many religious organizations do not receive mainstream media
coverage, the Internet has become a natural gathering place for
religious groups and individuals. On MyMissourian, people have
written about everything from Paganism to Christianity.
Although some sections of the Web site have not been as successful, Bentley said the MyMissourian experiment is paying off and that readers are hungry for local, people-centered news. 
“The aim of citizen journalism is to help strengthen community ties by opening up the process of journalism itself,” Bentley said. “The community is one of participation rather than passive readership.”
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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