Changing face of Journalism

Citizen film at 11: CNN, others deputizing on-the-spot journalists
By Jessica Heslam
Boston Herald Media Reporter
Sunday, August 6, 2006 - Updated: 09:51 AM EST

With shrinking newsrooms, major leaps in technology and the public’s insatiable craving for the latest compelling footage, an increasing number of mainstream media outlets are embracing so-called citizen journalism.
Just last week, CNN beefed up its citizen journalism effort by launching a section on its Web site called “CNN Exchange,” where viewers can upload video clips or photographs of news as it unfolds.
From the London bombings to Hurricane Katrina to the plane crash off Miami, bystanders, commuters and vacationers are getting their photos and video clips on cable TV networks, local newscasts, newspapers and Web sites.

It’s a growing phenomenon, bolstered by the invention of camera and video phones, which has also raised red flags among media critics concerned about a brave new world of cell-cam snoops.
“It’s one thing to put up war coverage because you know some soldier is there shooting the video. It’s another thing to have neighbors snooping on neighbors,” said syndicated columnist and Emerson College professor Jeffrey Seglin.
Journalism experts say traditional news organizations have warmed up to the concept because they have to - if they want to survive.
“The media organizations that understand and embrace the revolutionary change that’s going on now in terms of control of the media are the ones that are going to prosper,” said Rory O’Connor, a former Boston producer and reporter.
“The ones that shy away from it out of fear are going to wither and die,” O’Connor said. “Newsrooms are shrinking at the same time that citizen media is exploding. In a sense, it’s a logical next step.”
While news executives everywhere have doled out thousands - even tens of thousands - for amateur footage and photos, CNN’s “I-Report” doesn’t pay a penny.
But that hasn’t stopped people from sending the cable powerhouse a slew of images, including video and a photo of the aftermath of a deadly house explosion in Illinois. The images were taken from a man in a neighboring town who drove to the scene after hearing about the explosion. CNN used his video and photo on the air and posted them on its Web site.
“Even with 4,000 people in your global news-gathering operation, you can’t always be there when news breaks, but you want to make sure for your viewers and your users that you have the best footage and the best images to support that story,” said Jennifer Martin, manager of technology public relations for CNN.
“Online, the appettite for raw, in-the-moment footage is really high,” Martin said. Before CNN uses an amateur video or photo, editors take numerous steps to verify that it’s the real thing.

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