There are a lot of reasons why I choose to write this blog. I write it to keep people in my life updated on what I’m thinking and what’s going on in my life, I write it to express an opinion, I write it to spread that information which I feel is relevant to the interests of my readers, etc. However, one of my main motivations for writing this blog is to help counter what I believe is a severe lack of true journalistic reporting that independently verifies its sources and removes slanted opinions from the final product.
In no way do I suggest that JerseySmarts.com is engaging in such reporting. In fact, I would agree that I provide my personal point of view in all, if not most, of the entries on this blog. In providing that point of view, though, I do try to counter any biases that I find in the topic, should such a counter be relevant.
Anyway, the purpose of this entry is to announce a Citizen Journalism Conference at Monmouth University one week from today, November 18, 2009. Complete details are below.
CITIZEN JOURNALISM – COUNTERING THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Citizens’ Campaign and Monmouth University are co-hosting a conference on November 18 to discuss the current state of local reporting in our new media environment, including how hyperlocal websites provide a means for stepped up local coverage and opportunities for citizen journalists to report from the frontlines.
The “Citizen Journalism: Countering the Culture of Corruption” morning panel will discuss the cuts in local news room staff and its impact on the quality of local government coverage, and how new online tools make it possible for journalists and citizen activists to report what is happening in city hall and throughout the community.
Speaking on the first panel will be Michael Delli Carpini, Dean of the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; Richard Benfield, former editorial writer of the Bergen Record and New York Times; Ted Mann, Founder of InJersey.com and Digital Development Director for Gannett New Jersey; and Michael Shapiro, CEO and Editor of www.TheAlternativePress.com.
The day will also feature a “Citizen Journalism” certification course for beginning bloggers & citizen activists who want to submit their own local news stories to online publications; and an afternoon “Meet & Greet” panel for journalism students and activists to talk and network with online news site editors.
The Conference will be held at Wilson Hall at Monmouth University from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so please reserve your seat today by emailing heather@jointhecampaign.com.
The Citizens’ Campaign is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting and encouraging civic engagement. To learn more about the Citizens’ Campaign, log onto www.JoinTheCampaign.com.
November 18, 2009
11 am – 2pmMonmouth University
Wilson Hall 400 Cedar Ave.
West Long Branch, NJ11 am – 11:30: Registration & Refreshments
11:30 am: Opening Remarks by Harry Pozycki & Round Table Discussion:
The New Media Climate: How the internet is transforming modern day journalism and its impact on local government & politics12:30 pm: Becoming a Citizen Journalist
1:00 – 2:00 pm: Meet the New Media Innovators.
Registration
This event is free and open to the public. To register, email Heather@JoinTheCampaign.com
This should be a great event and I hope that my fellow bloggers in the New Jersey area will plan to attend the conference. I’m hoping to get over there myself, schedule permitting. If you DO attend the conference, please consider sending a report on what was talked about and some of your thoughts.
I agree that there is some value to citizen journalism, but I don’t ever see it expanding to anything beyond what it currently is. The main problem with citizen journalism is the lack of accountability. At least, if you are a professional for a credible news organization or company, you as a reporter have an incentive to protect your reputation, as well as your job. Accountability and incentive means everything.
Blogs and bloggers unfortunately have a bad stigma. It’s almost as if blog is a dirty word, thanks to the many whack-jobs who have one. Even though some choose to come across or distinctively appear as a journalist, a blogger at the very worst is a commentator, much like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Keith Olbermann, etc. (I do not consider O’Reilly a journalist, even though he claims to be one).
Blogs have their place in the professional news room… but they should be grouped with the opinion columns and editorials.
I completely agree. The best “news” blogs that I see are the ones on the New York Times websites because they’re not your typical blog. They’re more like running commentaries on the news with random updates on the topic being discussed.