The adoption of two technologies over the past few years has enabled vast numbers of ordinary citizens to report on events that they witness and to have their reports published where millions can find them.
The first key technology is that of mobile phones. Even simple mobile phones can be used to send voice or text messages to sites that collect news updates. With increasing number of phones with inbuilt cameras and with internet access, more and more users are able to send photos and videos of unfolding events directly to popular websites.
The second technology is the emergence of social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube and Flickr which depend on user generated content (UGC) and encourage comments and sharing. They also promote the use of tagging, which defines the key words in stories, allowing the most popular topics to be highlighted and others to search for subjects of particular interest. Comments, sharing and tagging mean that the most popular reports spread like wildfire while the mass of reports become a huge searchable library.
How should professional broadcasters respond to this new world with growing numbers of citizen broadcasters and journalists? Are they a threat or do they represent an opportunity?
The AIB believes that they represent an opportunity but require broadcasters to adapt to the new reality of how stories are being broken and news reported.
For example, broadcasters can use the new technologies themselves to make sure that their own staff are equipped to report quickly. For example, companies such as AIB member ProSkope have software that allows reporters to use their mobile phones easily to submit material for reports, improving the flexibility and speed of reporting.
But broadcasters also need to monitor social networking sites to check for breaking stories and to connect with those who are reporting on the spot. Guy Degen was in Georgia when asked by Deutsche Welle to report on opposition demonstrations and he used Twitter to make contact with those who were actively “tweeting” about the unrest.
Professional broadcasters also have the authority and responsibility to put the news in context and validate the authenticity of citizen reports. This is where software like Ushahidi is valuable in mapping stories that come in and making it easier to cross-reference reports. Ushahidi has been used in the covering natural disasters such as the Haitian earthquake and also by Al Jazeera in their reporting on the War on Gaza.
What is Ushahidi? from Ushahidi on Vimeo.
We are only just seeing the start of the flowering of citizen broadcasting. But already the tools can help professional broadcasters, whose role of reporting with authority and providing context becomes increasingly important.
Please contact the AIB if you want to comment on this article or would like further information.