by Ben Kritz

Created on: March 05, 2008   Last Updated: April 25, 2008

Citizen journalists are free of some of the restraints of more traditional forms of journalism, but it is important to remember that the definition of "citizen journalist" is not "an opinionated malcontent airing views developed on the basis of things he read one time in Wikipedia." That, unfortunately, is the form taken by most of what is currently considered "citizen journalism."

As an example of one of the restraints that citizen journalists are NOT free from, I should offer at this point something that is usually referred to as "full disclosure." I am, technically, a "regular" journalist; I write an editorial column for a small newspaper called The Foreign Post, and also occasionally write news and features stories, mostly on health, education, and travel-related topics. Thus, I am personally in a position where my objectivity on the subject of "citizen journalism" is likely to be affected. To maintain my credibility with my readers, it is important that they know that what I am writing comes from a certain point of view, and may not be totally objective fact.

Credibility is the journalist's or any writer's gold. Credibility is the currency that buys readers, and for those of us who get paid for our writing, credibility determines how much and how often that happens. Credibility can be achieved in different ways, depending on what the writer's objective is. To gain and maintain credibility as an opinion columnist, I must present logical arguments and support my opinions with facts. To gain and maintain credibility as a reporter of news, I must strive to present only the facts of all sides of an issue, properly acknowledge the sources of my information, and confirm the accuracy of any information I am presenting. These conditions, or restraints, are just as important whether I am writing for my little newspaper, a major wire service, or an online blog.

The explosion of "citizen journalism" through the Internet is, for the most part, a benefit to society as a whole. Stories that would never be revealed through traditional journalism are being reported; the world is coming closer together, and we are all learning more. The Internet has removed many restraints on those who would be journalists; anyone with access to a computer now has a voice and an audience, without years of "paying their dues," and the sometimes-frustrating structure imposed by deadlines and editorial policy. But with the good comes the bad, and quite frankly, there's a lot of pure dreck out there in cyberspace. People who wish to truly be "citizen journalists" must remember that many of the old rules still and always will apply, and that while many of the discouraging obstacles to creativity have been removed, so has a lot of the structure that helps writers learn how to gain credibility. There are many citizen journalists out there who are doing a good job in this new world of ours, and for that I am glad; talent deserves a chance. But it's hard work, and there are standards that must be followed. We can reinvent the vehicle, after all, but we can't reinvent the wheel.

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