With the growth of the digital news environment allowing just about anyone to become a citizen journalist, the need for an editor, or even just some kind of monitor, would seem more imperative than ever. However, citizen journalism requires something a little different than your average editor in order to be successful.
Rich Gordon of Northwestern University said that the job of a "citizen editor" isn't just to give the readers what they want to read, but to encourage users to interact with each other and "solicit other people to provide information." I have to say, I'm on Gordon's side on this one. In order for citizen journalism to truly work there needs to be participants constantly updating information and encouraging other "citizens" to provide insight to the topics at hand, whatever they may be. The reason why most people have taken to digital journalism is because it is not dictated, for lack of better word, by one or two editors who control the content; It allows anyone with thoughts and opinions to create the news. If there is no citizen editor, than ultimately there is no difference between citizen journalism and plain, old-fashioned reporting. There needs to be that person, or people, who encourages others to get on board and contribute, no matter how small or large their audience.
Demotix is a site that boasts about being the "YouTube for news" in a blog on Telegraph.co.uk. This is a great example of citizen journalism with citizen editors. The site strictly publishes user-generated content and connects journalists and people alike in a place where freedom of speech and expression are greatly encouraged. It is sites like Demotix that thrive in the many-to-many model of journalism that we see today, and allow citizen journalism to reach its potential.
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