The media have yet to harness the power of citizen journalism

The Guardian reports on last year's London bombings reminds us that it was "the first domestic news story where the most significant coverage came from people at the scene - via mobile phones - rather than from established news outlets".

The article describes how "citizen journalism" reverberated around every newsroom in the country and what a wake up call it was. But of interest, an innovative example that I had not heard of before:

"In Norway, a daily paper publishes one text-messaging number, which it encourages people to remember or store on their phones, and then solicits contributions this way whenever there is a breaking story it wishes to collect material on. Just as we all know the number for the emergency services, it is not impossible that, one day, we will all carry the number that puts us through to our favourite website, or TV station or newspaper."

emily | 12:25 PM | Citizens as Camera Phone Reporters |
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2006/07/012884.htm