by Marcus Brooks

Created on: March 12, 2008   Last Updated: April 25, 2008

Since July, I've been a member of helium. Helium.com writers have the reputations of constructing well-thought out stories. They are writers to create truth in their essays and documentaries. In the world of online journalism, helium has raised the caliber of citizen journalism to compete with journalists worldwide. Helium writers are taking in political events, such as the Iowa Caucus and the I'll Make Me a World festival, to cover them for the reading public. Bloggers and citizen journalists have a duty to provide these things:

1) accurate reporting
2) honest reporting
3) non-bias reporting

Bloggers and citizen journalists must follow the same codes of conduct as other journalists do. We must be willing to work toward the "big stories". Reporting about Congress activities are considered "big stories". There are several stories worth reporting on that can earn a bloggers and citizen journalists credentials.

1) groundbreaking ceremonies/new openings
2) disaster stories
3) concert events
4) sporting events, such as March Madness/Final Four

Giving accurate accounts on these events are important for on-field experience. We, as citizen journalists should consider ourselves like other journalists. We shouldn't embellish our stories. We shouldn't write fake stories. A blogger's and citizen journalist's reputations are critical. Real journalism has been a rarity in the last five years. Tabloid journalism has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Instead of writing about the presidential race and foreign policy, stories about Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston, Brad and Angelina and Britney Spears are making up magazine covers.

Writing about bills being passed or new laws being created are what all journalists should aspire to do. We should be aspiring about writing on the business of Congress. When delegates came to Iowa during the Congress, hundreds of media outlets came in tow. In a couple of years, there won't be a difference in citizen or media journalists or bloggers. We'll all be following the same rules. We'll be showing the reading public the same respect.

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