Getting ready for UMass conference

Preparations are underway for the conference on news and politics. Reading the winter issue of the Nieman Report on citizen journalism is proving useful for getting some context. The opitimism surround this new journalistic form is inspiring and, yet, disturbing at the same time. The term democracy, a key concept in citizen journalism, leaves one scratching their head. In a Derrididian way, the word means nothing and, in viewing it this way, provides a crucial insight and begs certain questions. Are journalists wrapping themselves in the cloak of democratic language as a means to regain public trust and credibility? And, in practising cItizen journalism, have journalists merely replaced one hegemonic structure for another. Does the current political economy really allow full participation or are we opening a door to a certainclass or type of individual. Yes, housewives and students are gaining access, but what about farmers and plumbers?

And here is where journalist may need to go an extra step. We should worry less about opening the doors and do a better job of facilitating the telling of stories.

At Loyalist we are using Blackberry wireless technology to do outreach. Last winter during the federal election, reporters went out into the field to speak with poeple who were not able or felt unwilling to participate in our candidates debate. The result was amazing. We were able to approach people, who otherwisee felt there wasn no room in the system. By typing their questions into an email, we were able to send them directly into the auditorium where they were asked. They were alos posted to the web. The ansers wre communicated back.

The results were wonderfil. Once one woman participated at a hockey arena, 30 people surrounded the reporter seeking a chance to ask a question.

The same thing was done in a local coffee shop and at the bus depot.

This is an important aspect of e-journalism and a failing of citizen journalism.