Participatory Journalism

J.D. Lasica has written a three-part series on participatory journalism. He put a lot of emphasis on video netcasting, which I think has a lot of years to go before it's actually important in any sense due to the slow growth of broadband in the U.S., but overall it's a good analysis of trends in interactivity.

Comments

What is participatory journalism?

[mjmalone]

From the article:

But when bloggers comment on and link to news stories, is that journalism? Usually no -- but it depends. When the blogger adds personal commentary that relies on original research, or if it is done by someone considered an authority on the subject, some would consider it journalism.

I think that this is the most interesting thing that has come out of the web. In the past people relied on relatively few sources to form their opinions on politics and world affairs. With the advent of the internet comes the ability to discuss events with people all over the world instantaneously. We no longer have to rely on large organizations to provide us with news that is usually biased due to personal or corporate agendas.

Slashdot is an excellent example. Stories are posted here every day, and for those of you who RTFA you may notice, as I have, that the comments on slashdot often provide far more interesting insight. The article argues that blogging is not really journalism because there is no editor, I would argue that every reader of the blog is, in fact, an editor. If someone writes something in their blog that is obviously biased or not based on fact people will undoubtably pick up on it and reply.

Re:What is participatory journalism?

[Anonymous Coward]

I would argue that every reader of the blog is, in fact, an editor.

Slashdot -- where everyone is an editor with the exception of the editors.

Re:What is participatory journalism?

[chaoscat]

In a way, discussion sites like slashdot are a return to the very old idea of the Socratic Method (ala Socrates), where people learn by asking questions and discussing, rather than being presented with information. I've worked for several years now tutoring college freshmen, and I can say with some confidance that student participation invariably leads to better understanding than when i just stand there and explain stuff. Sites like slashdot bring this same type of experience to the news.

Journalism 101

[segment]

when business interests and advertising dollars trump the rights of readers to obtain honest, hard-hitting advice that would send a media bean-counter into a stroke.

One of the problems with independent journalists is cognitive dissonance:

Festinger claimed that people avoid information that is likely to increase dissonance. Not only do we tend to select reading material and television programs that are consistent with our existing beliefs, we usually choose to be with people who are like us. By taking care to ''stick with our own kind," we can maintain the relative comfort of the status quo. Like-minded people buffer us from ideas that could cause discomfort. In that sense, the process of making friends is an example of selecting our own propaganda.

We as people tend to stick with familiarity, and with the news agencies, just because it isn't an independent person but rather a slew of ideals thrown together, no matter what you think things will always be slanted one way or the other.

As most newspaper and broadcast journalists can attest, there are some news subjects that are considered generally off-limits to the news side

Everything must be taken with a grain of salt. My pet peeve about news agencies, is they seemed to be reserved in what they will say, and I think too many people are left blind to major issues in life. It's sad to admit it, but there are many people worldwide who don't have the mental capability of understanding what is in front of them. Instead they turn away to fantasy, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Oprah, whatever can be used as an escape.

Being that i run a pseudo news site with information that I think is interesting, I too know how to slant things for my own enjoyment or gain. I also know the dangers that most don't when it comes to posting certain information. Sure I've been threatened with suits, been visited by feds, and I'm still debating whether or not I should take down MI6's headquarter pix from my FOIA directory. I think participation is great because it gives another perspective to an issue, yet at the same time I think it is dangerous because common sense would dictate, somewhere along the line information will be misconstrued which could lead to grave danger.

EOF

see /.

[lavaface]

I get nearly all of my news from blogs and other news aggrergators. Eschaton and the Progressive Review will point me to articles of interest. /. is also important in this regard. Of course these sites merely link to other publications. However, the context that they place articles and the accompanying comments are often more important than the articles themselves. There are few examples of journalists posting original work, but they do exist. Christopher Allbritton, a former AP reporter raised $10,000 for a trip to Iraq for original reporting on Back to Iraq. Calpundit has a post about the microjournalism efforts of science writer David Appell. In time, a market for independent journalists will emerge. A widespread plan for micropayments will help.

South Korea's Ohmynews(not in english yet) has thousands of contributers whose stories are ranked and polished by seasoned editors. The internet played an important role in electing their progressive president in the last election.

There is a future for independent original news on the web. For now, though, it will remain the province of armchair pundits who sift through dozens, or hundreds, of articles and put them in a context that Google news could never do (maybe with the purchase of Pyra Labs . . . ) They may have other jobs but if they are successful enough to elicit 10,000 people to contribute $5, they are on their way towards financial independence as well.

Only partially tongue-in-cheek...

[WildFire42]

I think this is the ultimate form of "interactive" journalism...

The Naked News, The program with nothing to hide.

I mean, really though, those who watch this, are they really paying attention to the latest George W. Bush sound clip?

I mean, I'm all for bewbies, but has our society really gotten to the point where the only way we can get people to be interested in current events is if the ignorant public gets to see primo mammary glandage?

Good grief.