Hmmm...Somehow the topic and the posts remind me of the song "Video killed the radio star" by the Buggles.

"Traditional Media"'s problem is business model. It (Traditional Media) is aware of the fact that the Internet is more dynamic than the conventional media, but it is not doing anything to catch up with all the dynamism brought about by the WorldWideWeb.

How did citizen journalism come into existence in the first place? Is not it because of a person with a digital camera and access to the Internet "publishing" a "news story" online? Think back of the times when there was no television. "Concerned" citizens would send their articles to the editor of a newspaper and the editor would "publish" a "select few" of such thousands "articles" she received each day.

Now think of how the situation changed when television became a part of almost every household. Did it? Television was far more "inaccesible" than print media.

I really do not need to say anything more. Honestly. Think of a cell phone, a computer, a telecommunications connection (which can connect your machine to the Internet) and a cop taking bribe...

Before you go to your local daily and your home television station, you will publish it in YouTube or write about it in your blog (and maybe copy-paste the same thing and send it to your newspaper).

And Ma'am Uttara, if "citizen journalism is", indeed, "a passing fad", you would not be writing about it here and I would not be throwing up over such myopic ideas :)

Peace.

Well, citizen journalism has already made its mark. Its been successful and effective especially in a developing country like India, where most cases of injustice, crime and corruption go unreported. But to say that it will take over traditional media might not be a possibility at least in the coming 2 decades. True, there is every possibility of misuse of the power of the media, but isn't that the case in most journalistic endeavors now? What can one say of "embedded journalism"? Yes, again the "finesse" of a citizen journalist's report might not match that of a pro. But this is again, I think almost the same as the case of print journalism. Whoever predicted that print would be facing the dire situation it is now some 25 years back. New media, new forms of communication will keep evolving. Meanings will get deconstructed. And as with everything we should be prepared to accept the changes. Just that, the most important pre-requisite and the most difficult principle to apply, "Objectivity" should be upheld at any cost.

Citizen journalism is a passing fad. It will never replace traditional media. It will make a dent surely, what with the forums grabbing the attention of retail advertisers and sponsors. But for more in-depth, balanced and impartial reporting and global (or national) news and features, there is no replacement for tradtional media.

I always thought the media was about providing local news. I wrote for the Sundays paper's local content lift out but after a few years the Sydney head office dropped the lift out and the first lift out story to replace us was about a millionaire porn theif in the US who partied with Bill Clinton- Ok a vaild trashy piece of gossip but we're in a regional town in Australia, what relevence is that to us, what do we benefit fromsuch a story?

I don't believe citizen journalism is a threat to conventional journalism, but rather another phase in its evolution. It has already become an important part of reporting: usually initial reports, (cell phone) photos and videos from a breaking news events come from citizen journalists, before the media outlets get their crews on the scene. Citizen journalism needs the conventional media to give it credibility and importance. And the traditional media needs citizen journalists to widen its coverage and add hyperlocal news for its audience.

In the global "cheapisation" of reporting, who could resist such a treasure of (mostly) free news resources?

What has changed in journalism is the way the public consumes the news. People can choose their news, they don't wait to have it served as before. Also, it's in human nature to pay more attention to things happening around them, as opposed to the things happening across the globe. Citizen journalism adds more choice and more color to the offer. It's here to stay and it's up to the conventional media to adapt and embrace it.

Zoran Bozicevic multimedia producer Canada

I believe traditional media will never die. Yes, the local news will always be there to sustain them. Technology can bring a lot of innovations, yet there spheres that still rely on the traditional media to remain informed.

Can't we see for instance that while the mobile phone has been a tramendous phenomenon, the traditional fix lines have stubbornly refused to go into extinct.

I think local info can save traditional media to an extent. This will depend on the objective of the media structure. in a situation where the target audience of a particular media is the local population, then this impression will hold correct. in this case, the law of proximity will be strongly applied. On the other hand, a media is widely open and wants a bigger audience will not survive will local news alone

Paul Ndemaloah, Journalist, National commission of Human Rights and Freedoms Cameroon

In my country Myanmar, there are many traditional reporters with poor knowledge of Information Technology. While citizen journalism has been grown with many bloggers and internet writers, they have not much chance for outlet. But I think it depends on individual differences in traditional reporters because they have much experiences and knowledge about political flow of country. They have been interested deeply in local news than young global ouletters. Citizen journalists and internet fonders must learn from them for some technics of news writing. They majority, are old aged and we have to pay respect towards them.

If I mention my oppinion local news can safe the tradional as well as Like in the traditional media setting some sort of ethics must be adopted to prevent the abuse of citizen journalism by enemies of free expression.

The main problem with national and international media is that it is controlled by multi-national conglomerates who only allow their own special financial and political interests to be covered thoroughly. They put far too much emphasis on sex and violence in print, TV and movies. We desperately need the restoration of our anti-trust laws to prevent corporations from becoming the dictators they have become. The news media overall needs more independently-owned companies.

Since much of the intelligent population is now aware of the gaps and limitations of the news media, they tend to ignore it and are choosing to get their news through the internet. There is a definite need for local news to inform people of what's happening in their own communities and there needs to be more money spent on investigative journalism.

With the ongoing environmental cataclysms, the vast amounts of wasted paper and trees cut to supply print - is abhorrent. Especially the billions of pounds of paper used for extraneous advertising. Print ads seldom get read and wind up in the garbage causing serious waste problems, or they have to be recycled giving the reader yet another responsibility in the already overwhelming business of his day.

The rapid growth of technology in this era provides a unique opportunity to enhance free expression. We see technology as compliment to traditional media and not a threat.

Like in the traditional media setting some sort of ethics must be adopted to prevent the abuse of citizen journalism by enemies of free expression. Within the Liberian context, with probably no regulation there accounts of abuse of citizen journalism. We must be mindful.