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Citizen Journalism: How Far Can One Go Writing News from His Own Adventures?

Many of the most important literature writers were doctors, engineers, journalists, politicians, etc. Actually, despite their trade in life most often these men and women had something to say about what was happening inside and around them that drove them to the pen. They simply had something to say, an urge to write, to express their thoughts, skills, art - talent put forth on words.

Well, this has actually always happened, one way or another. That urge is really strong and finds its way out. We hear of indigenous people all over the world ... how they get together around the fire, after a day of hardship for survival, sharing their fortunate and unfortunate experiences.

Telling stories is something desirable. Telling stories became so important in our history that kings had people to write for them and tell their stories: in general about their victories, might and outstanding deeds. Often the king would gather his court to sit and enjoy the stories; probably he'd take the opportunity to censor them.

In our more recent past, the only way to tell our stories was through writing books or articles in newspapers or a newsletter of some sort. One way or another you had to put it down on paper. Nowadays we have the Web and more freedom of speech, or at least we want to have it, because as always the people in power are very sensitive to the written word. The first thing to be controlled by totalitarian governments is the press.

Nevertheless, we do enjoy much more freedom in the civilized world, for we may use the Internet and blogs, wikis, and even cell phones to interact and tell our stories. Now as then we can learn from each other and grow too. The World Wide Web went on growing faster them any one expected and we may, or most of us may, access information from anywhere in the world, about any subject and even go a step further and create information, stories, news - you name it.

The Web has broadened our vision and the possibilities to express ourselves. For me one of the most important recent events is collaborative journalism. With the motto "every citizen is a reporter" I have set my pass. Well, my contribution here is to talk about what it is like to be a citizen reporter, a down to earth view of the possibilities, joys and difficulties of exercising your right to be a voice among many voices.

OhmyNews International (OMNI) is a collaborative newspaper

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