If you notice the 'X Journalism' tags on this site, I've already tried to break down the different types of citizen journalists. While Bertrand Pecquerie over at Editor's Weblog goes about it a little differently (From citizen journalism myth to citizen journalism realities) I want to take a moment to explain the differences I see. (And, for the record, the 'New Journalism' is actually referring to the old 'New Journalism' i.e. Wolfe and crew. ;) (Thanks to Lasica for the refer.)

Citizen Journalism

This is somewhat of an umbrella term, but by definition, it's someone who independently (or as part of a group) gathers facts, verifies them, and presents them to the public on the web, encouraging conversation around the stories. It's not just a 'blogger.' That's already a term. Citizen Journalism is different than Blogging. Also, there's a need for some professionally trained or self trained journalists to oversee a large project.

Civic Journalism

This term has some political undertones to it - at least to me. This sub branch of citizen journalism actively gets involved in local politics - not necessarily on one side or another, but striving to get people involved so that Democracy has a better chance of working.

Grassroots Journalism

This is the Gillmor term, I guess. To me, it speaks of a loose organizational model. Community sites banding together to supplement traditional media in the area.

Participatory Journalism

This is citizen journalism with a very heavy emphasis on participation - communication - conversation. The recently announced NewsVine seems to fit this term.

Well, that's what I was thinking when I set-up those tags here. Now, on to Pecquerie's post.

But the problem is that this ideal citizen journalist only exists in some bloggers’ views.

The reality is different with the birth of four categories of citizen journalism, but with very few links between them:

• the citizen journalist who owns a digital camera or a camera phone and sends shootings to a news organisation during a major event (tsunami, London bombing…) or a local car accident
• the citizen journalist who wants to cover its local or virtual community and produce targeted content
• the citizen journalist who is a militant and campaigns for political reasons. How Eason Jordan was fired from CNN by infuriated bloggers in January 2005, was a good example of biased citizen journalism
• the citizen journalist who is eager to participate to a « conversation » with professional journalists and bloggers. « News is just the beginning » says Jeff Jarvis and, in some cases, it is true.
  

No doubt something new has appeared in the last two years and that traditional newsrooms will have to deal with these new citizen journalists. But the idea that there is an essence of citizen journalism - as replacing the so-called traditional journalism - is dead.

Citizen journalists are part of the family, but different. And this difference depends on what journalists and bloggers call « collective intelligence ».

I mean, I think we all pretty much know true 'journalists' are going to be in the mix. The question is who are they going to be working for - big media companies on the East Coast, or locally owned, small fiefdoms of hyper-local content?

Thoughts?

Technorati Tags: Civic Journalism Grassroots Journalism New Media Independent Online