by Amani Channel
Response to Jeremy Porter

I made the video above three years ago after I moved to Atlanta Georgia from Tampa Florida. In a past life I worked as a reporter for Fox 13… Still the debate rages. What is citizen journalism? How do citizen journalists and traditional journalists interact, compete, or collaborate to create content?

The term citizen journalism has certainly become a buzzword in media circles. It generally refers to individuals who are non-professional journalists who capture and share newsworthy content.

One of the most noted examples was the Virginia Tech student who captured the only sounds of the massacre with his Nokia cell phone, and shared it with CNN. He happened to be at the right place at the right moment.

The Web has certainly played an instrumental role in the public’s ability to gather and share content, but is citizen journalism really that new?

Think back to the Rodney King beat down. It was a citizen who captured the vicious incident. Back then the news referred to it as “home video.”

During the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, numerous individuals captured the events from just about every angle. Initially, the media feasted on the pictures of the planes swooping down and crashing into the edifices. Eventually, the station that I worked for (and I assume that many others) was ordered from the suits to stop airing the footage. Even shots of the collapsing buildings were banned from being aired.

The media shift was already in full swing. Internet users were taking the media into their own hands. The Drudge Report scooped mainstream media with the Monica Lewinsky/Clinton scandal. It wasn’t because reporters and networks weren’t aware of the controversy, it’s that news outlets were being pressured politically to stay mute.

Everyone should know that he information game called news isn’t always about informing people about real issues and problems. It’s also about money and image. But fewer people are tuning in, and the image that traditional news outlets can provide the sole source of credible information is crumbling.

Journalistics provides an interesting analysis of the reason why traditional journalists don’t care for citizen produced information. I would argue that it is part fear, part jealousy, and part a lack of control of coveted information.

Journalists in general are good, hardworking people who are seeking the truth while trying to make deadline. Media companies though have profited from controlling information, and setting the agenda for something that has always belonged to the public, free information. In many cases fear, materialism, and the reinforcement of stereotypes is the only thing you will find on “Channel Zero.”

It is no secret that mass media is evolving to reflect the natural peer-to-peer way we communicate with a viral twist. The communications model has always included: a sender > channel > noise > receiver > feedback. The sender and channel now includes anyone who can use technology to share information, and drive clicks. It can be through a blog, email message, or online video. The receiver is anyone who can click on a link that interests them. The feedback comes from comments, tweets, and conversations that are generated from the information.

CNN has one of the most progressive mainstream models for integrating citizen media though it’s iReport community. In conversations with staffers, they don’t refer to the content as “citizen journalism,” though it can be argued that it is. They call it a more generic term, “user-generated content.”

I believe that calling information journalism implies that a certain amount of research, fact-finding, and vetting, has occurred. To argue about terms however, is a waste of time.

The fact remains; journalism jobs will continue to go away until information on the Internet is monetizable. Bloggers, on the other hand will continue to write, people will tweet, and guys like me will keep making media. The public will continue to consume content like there’s no tomorrow.

Journalists who will survive, are those who are able to embrace technology, learn the online language of communications, and appreciate others who are trying in their own way to take responsibility for sharing information.

Sure, all bloggers aren’t journalists, but neither is every “personality” you see on the news.

If you were to ask me (a veteran broadcast reporter by trade) what the real value of social media is, I would say: “It’s the ability to not only capture and share information, it’s also the ability to meet diverse people, build new relationships, share knowledge, and personal branding.”

Journalists have many skills that they can use to generate income, but until they stop criticizing “we media”, and start embracing it, they will be blinded by their own ignorance about the true power of the people.

As I wrote these thoughts, I thought of this video I recently captured of former BET anchor Ed Gordon who spoke to a group of Atlanta journalists.

What are your thoughts?

Update: The irony of this debate is that traditional journalists might frown up at “citizen journalists” but as soon as a citizen captures some exclusive pictures or video, believe that the mainstream will publish the images all the same. Make sure you do your due diligence to get paid.