On a Positive Note . . .

So quite clearly, I am not a huge fan of the rise in citizen journalism as an individual trade, as it were.

I am, unashamedly, a traditionalist. I mean this in general terms. I want a big white wedding, no kids until I'm married (not that I have anything against this, its just me), and I believe that people trained to do a certain job should be the ones to actually do it.

Granted then, when the term "network journalism" reared its head, I thought pretty much the same thing I did of citizen journalism . . . why don't they just leave it to us?!

I was pleasantly surprised. Actually more than pleasantly, I was really really happy with what I came across. Network journalism is exactly what is should be; a return to the oldest values, just a little bit updated. Dialogue is key to journalism. We're not preachers, we convey things that we believe people want to hear. We work in the interest of the public, so what better way to write a story for people than a story which people tell us they want to read? Isn't that the whole point?!

I suppose its almost an abnoxious trait to believe that we know what people want to hear without actually asking them. Its funny because if a journalist is taken to court over a story, he/she practically blames it on the public who to be honest, the majority of which probably only glanced at the story anyway. So yeah, I am all for this idea of networking.

People, more often than not, have a particular interest. Its not a bad thing, we all do. I am obsessed with the world of celebrities, and a little bit of politics now and again, but have no interest in sport. Therefore, as a member of the public I would love a story tailored to my own interest and so I should think do the general public.

For my next trick therefore, I refer you to http://wiki.spot.us/. This is exactly what its all about, people with common interests all sharing ideas about one topic they all have something to say about. Then, they get someone else to write it.

So, as a trainee journalist I am now going to do something quite out of character and issue an apology for my "dubiousness" over public participation. If someone wants a particular story and they can get all the substance I as a journalist need to accompany my research, by this I mean pics and audio, I'm all for it. The person gets a well written version of a story they want to read with all the stuff they have managed to get on said story, stuff I may not have been able to get hold of myself. I, as the journalist get to do my job of researching and writing in a way only we know how to do as trained professionals and the readers, get to . . . well, read and no one has to put themselves out really.

Hmmm, yes. I think I like it.