Comments on: Upcoming Events: Citizen Journalism Conference at Monmouth University http://www.jerseysmarts.com/2009/11/11/upcoming-events-citizen-journalism-conference-at-monmouth-university/ How to Survive in the Garden State Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:49:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Joe http://www.jerseysmarts.com/2009/11/11/upcoming-events-citizen-journalism-conference-at-monmouth-university/comment-page-1/#comment-4879 Joe Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:41:51 +0000 http://www.jerseysmarts.com/?p=4043#comment-4879 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. 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.

]]> By: Martin http://www.jerseysmarts.com/2009/11/11/upcoming-events-citizen-journalism-conference-at-monmouth-university/comment-page-1/#comment-4818 Martin Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:10:40 +0000 http://www.jerseysmarts.com/?p=4043#comment-4818 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 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.

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