Citizen Journalism Tends to Be Shallow and Middle-Class'

That's certainly an eye-catching title, posted by Matthew Buckland on Poynter.org

Buckland writes: "reporter.co.za, a new site that invites members of the public to contribute their own articles and photographs and earn a small fee, highlights the potential and limitations of the citizen-journalism craze. This is according to veteran South African media professional Anton Harber, in his Harbinger column, entitled "Citizen journalism tends to be shallow and middle-class."

... He takes a close look at Reporter.co.za,, which promises a "range of lively material." But on closer inspection, he says, the reports are "half-baked, the sort you'd expect from beginner reporters who would be sent back by a news desk to plug the holes." He also notes that the pictures have a "charming amateurishness" to them.

Harber does agree, however, that there is a place for citizen journalism."

Related: -Reporter.co.za - new citizen reporter media site

emily | 7:14 PM | Citizens as Camera Phone Reporters |
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