The NewsMeBack Blog

Citizen journalism guide

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:30:27 +0000

If you think about becoming citizen journalist and have some doubts or worries about your knowledge, you can stop by and read this simple guide about citizen journalism.
It’s all easy here. You don’t need some fancy schools or courses, you don’t even need training, but if you have some it’s cool. All you need is curiosity and love for information.
This guide is not about rules and “musts”.
Just some basic directions and instructions to give you a push in this new and exciting world of news. Like it’s name says it’s a journalism for citizens by citizens.
Your basic requirements are:

- interest in true news
- interest in world around you
- interest in ordinary events
- interest in reporting

So lets begin.
If you really want your information to be true, that when you hear or read headlines to trust in your sources, then you’ll have to do the same if you want to be a citizen journalist. Real and checked information are first thing.
After that and related to whole process is that you care and think about your surroundings. This means that if you go to work and see that road is blocked for some reason, you would report about it and inform your fellow citizens about it. That is, you will report about ordinary event for the planet, but important event for your community.
And if you have some tools, gadgets and other tech gear, and of course you know how to use it, you are more than perfect candidate for one serious citizen journalist.
It’s all you need. And best of all, you don’t have to do it all the time, you don’t have to think about it as obligation. Only good will and time.
So welcome and good luck.

Grants for citizen journalists in Philippines

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:20:39 +0000

Since citizen journalism is a big deal in the Philippines and it’s just getting started some people decided that it is time to offer some grants and make citizen journalism even more interesting.
Mulat Pinoy, Probe Media Foundation Inc. and the Philippine Center for Population and Development invited all the Philippine citizen journalists to do what they do best and that’s write citizen journalism news.
Citizen journalism showed importance and power of ordinary citizen words. Philippines are now place where citizen media enjoys respect and gets on popularity. Citizen journalists did great job and covered all the top issues and weren’t ashamed and afraid to blog and share all serious events in the Philippines.
Now they have opportunity to show their work and receive grants for citizen journalism. This contest expires on September 6 so if you live in the Philippines and you are citizen journalist or you consider on becoming one, do your best, write about important things for your community and hope to get the grant.
We wish you success.

Real life citizen journalism in Pakistan floods

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:38:01 +0000

This is the real purpose and importance of citizen journalism. The heart of the idea.
When people are in trouble and have no other ways to get help and information, that’s where citizen journalists come. We can witness now, after horrible Pakistan floods and so many lives lost and in danger, from all we can think of, from hunger, thirst and now disease, how important is to know what is going on.
People need to inform authorities about their position and needs and also they need feedback on when will they get it. Crucial in situations like this is to have responsible people who have knowledge and tools to give needed information and directions.
It is for every admiration and respect to see how Pakistani citizen journalists know how to find ways and share and update the world and their community.
Citizen media proved capability of saving lives and helping.
Hopefully Pakistan will survive this natural disaster and thank to citizens who found time in their misfortune to help others.

OhmyNews starts citizen journalism blog

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:25:52 +0000

The latest news about website OhmyNews is that they decided to close their International website and start with some different approach to citizen journalism.
OhmyNews will start their citizen journalism blog. This means that they will, like we do, start to write about citizen journalism itself. Not news and headlines, but essence of citizen journalism.
When we started to create Citizen journalism directory we had huge problem to find citizen journalism blogs, blogs who write only about citizen journalism.
Many bloggers sent us their addresses with one or two posts about citizen journalism and rest posts were about other themes. So, this is great that citizen journalism blog community gets new serious member.
Their citizen journalism blog posts you can find on this address
OhmyNews International

Something new in NewsMeBack Citizen journalism community

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:09:28 +0000

Yes it’s been a while. A lot while. But we have to say it was worth-while.
We had some big action going on for past month in creating better NewsMeBack website and new improved Citizen journalism directory.
We worked hard and slept little but we finally liked results.
Our Citizen journalism directory now has some new stuff, nicer design and more websites listed.
We changed some things and kept some old, already good things.
Now we have four categories :
Global – for citizen journalism websites which write about world news.
Local – for local community websites who write about local news.
Blog – for citizen journalism blogs.
Collaborative – for both, citizen and professional journalism working together.
And of course we must mention our new thing on NewsMeBack website.
We decided to go more local and give our users possibility to write about everything in their community.
Because citizens create their community and citizens are the ones who have the right to say few words on that matter.
So, we have new option on NewsMeBack and that is Cities.
We have long list of world cities, so everyone can pick few of them and read or write citizen journalism news related to that city.
We offer many cities, but that list is still open for some new.
Now, all we have left to do is to invite all the people who are interested in citizen journalism, and those who are just curious, to visit us and take a tour through our Citizen journalism community.
We can invite people who already visited our directory to clear their cache, refresh and see our new looks.
And of course invite new people to stop by and if they like it, then to spread citizen journalism together.
Until next time enthusiastic NewsMeBack team wishes you
All best

One Day On Earth 10.10.10.

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:55:54 +0000

October 10th, 2010.
One Day On Earth project.
Another wonderful idea to involve citizens of the world to contribute and create some sort of time capsule for future generations.
Idea is to connect all people interested in filmmaking, whether they are professionals or citizens to make their own movie about One Day On Earth.
Every day we live on Earth is unique and special. In every country something happens which is similar and at the same time so different when you compare it with another country.
This event will document widest views and experiences people live and see in one day.
Online video archive will get something new and never filmed before.
From your point as a citizen of the world, the way you live and breathe, work, cry or share joy with your people.
Join this onetime, global and uniting event and let the world see your One Day On Earth.

One Day on Earth Participant Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Congratulations to Stroome on Knight Foundation award

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:05:24 +0000

NewsMeBack wants to congratulate our friends from Stroome.com on receiving great award from Knight Foundation.
Stroome showed their value as a citizen journalism platform and their rising importance in media world.
All this was finally confirmed with 200 000$ when Stroome became one of the 2010 Knight News Challenge winners.
Creating interesting and helpful place for all citizen journalists and their work got deserved attention.
As Tom Grasty said in interview with NewsMeBack a month ago when we asked him where is Stroome in the future

Where do you see Stroome in the future?

Clearly you saved the toughest question for last. It’s tough to say. But this much I do know. With a collaborative platform like ours it’s what the community does with Stroome that will shape the future. We’re just the catalyst.

And finally besides wishing them even greater success in the future, we want to congratulate to all other winners.

Citizen journalism in FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:29:38 +0000

It finally started. Excitement, thrill, cheering and competition.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Johannesburg became world sports center and many eyes are pointed in Africa now.
Wonderful working place for citizen journalists. Like in Vancouver, now live from Africa, Johannesburg.
Citizen journalism already showed capability and capacity and now will do it all again. We expect lots of citizen reports, Twitter updates and countless photos of one of the most popular events of the year.
We expect lot from citizen journalism workshops and the training which people in Africa interested in news had chance to take. Now all the skills and knowledge will have their great debut.
So even though many of us won’t get the chance to look this world best football live, we’ll get all information on time.
Fans, critics, viewers will make it even bigger. Citizen audience and citizen media will do their magic again.
And all we have left to say is, we wish to win the best team and good sports spirit.

Remembering Neda Agha-Soltan

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:20:06 +0000

Neda Agha-Soltan, tragically died in June 2009.
One young woman who gave her life as a pledge to all the people who have doubts.
Doubts if they should stand up for themselves.
Doubts if they should fight for their beliefs.
Doubts in what is right and what is wrong.
Doubts if they should better close their eyes in front of tyranny.
Neda Agha-Soltan, young and free spirited woman knew all the answers on these questions.
It’s more than one president, one election and one riot.
It’s a symbol.
Because life teaches us that we must stand up for ourselves. No matter in what. Is it our job, school, family or friendship. We must prove our value.
We must fight for our beliefs and certainly must differ right from wrong.
And definitely be aware of fact that tyranny will never go away willingly or by itself. Every kind of tyranny, political, cultural or religious.
We have to learn best of Neda’s tragic death.
She rose her voice against government’s faults and that cost her life. But that was enough as a wake up call for many others who forgot that being a human has both, rights and obligations.
So, remember Neda Agha-Soltan as a symbol of truth and justice.

Interview with Naveen Naqvi, journalist from Pakistan

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:29:58 +0000

Naveen Naqvi is Pakistani journalist who has brilliant carrier as a reporter, anchor and much more. She worked for NBC, MSNBC, DawnNews and now as an online journalist for The Huffington Post. She made some important innovations in Pakistani media and became first who tweeted live in Pakistan.

We want to say thanks to Naveen Naqvi who shared her time and views with us.

NewsMeBack: Since you participated in the Eurasian Media Forum Conference what are your impressions from the event?

Naveen Naqvi: If there was a conclusion in my mind, it was that soon there will be no choice but for the various mediums of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ to combine. The important question posed by the World Economic Forum at my session was whether it is economically feasible. I think it is.

NewsMeBack: In your opinion how important information is in ones life?

Naveen Naqvi: In the world we live at this time, it is impossible to exist without being informed all the time. The world is constantly changing, every hour, every minute.

NewsMeBack: Can you describe media in your country?

Naveen Naqvi: Pakistan has seen a media boom. Due to frequent breaking news events, there has been a surge in 24-hour news channels. Entertainment channels as a result have not done so well lately. Even so, the television and radio industries, mobile technology and the internet are industries that are growing at a remarkably rapid rate given how poor a country this is. If there’s one investment to make right now in Pakistan, it’s in the media. But as we know, booms don’t last so let’s see.

NewsMeBack: Do you think that newspaper have real problem with “old” news, because of printing process, unlike social media where news go live?

Naveen Naqvi: Newspapers are in trouble in Pakistan as they are everywhere in the world. Given that, we have just seen a new newspaper launched just last month. The print medium is looking increasingly toward broadcast and online to rescue it. As people have access to breaking news through many channels that also show constant news analysis, people are spending less money on buying papers. Internet access is limited so the social media are less influential here than TV.

NewsMeBack: Is citizen journalism serious competition to traditional media?

Naveen Naqvi: I think it is and should be. People-powered news is the best thing to have happened in my opinion. You can see from the ban on facebook and youtube that social media really challenge the state. This is a good thing.

NewsMeBack: Is there a difference between citizen journalism in democratic and non democratic countries?

Naveen Naqvi: The ‘traditional’ or ‘mainstream’ media are biased everywhere in the world. The US is supposed to be the standard of democracy but their media from print to broadcast and so on all have editorial biases. Citizen journalism offers an opportunity to break those restrictions. However, it is true that it would not be possible to ban a website like Pakistan has done with Facebook and Youtube in privileged countries.

NewsMeBack: Positive and negative sides of citizen journalism.

Naveen Naqvi: On the positive side, it gives people, citizens who are mostly disempowered a voice, a platform to be heard. In criticism I can say that citizen journalists are more vulnerable than professionals. The downside of the internet is that it gives states a tool to monitor everyone. Critics can be found and sometimes, arrested as in Russia and Iran.

NewsMeBack: What do you think are the biggest citizen journalism problems and can they be fixed?

Naveen Naqvi: One of the first things you’re taught as a professional journalist is the importance of ethics. In order to give credible news, you must check your story with two sources. It’s best if those two sources are opposing sides of the story. As a journalist, it is your responsibility to give all angles. Of course, this is not always true, but ideally that is how it should be. Maybe there can be a way of training citizen journalists to keep that in mind when presenting a report or analysis.

NewsMeBack: What is the best example of citizen journalism until now?

Naveen Naqvi: Michael Tippett of NowPublic brought to my attention a story out of Canada. Corruption cases in the police and other state tools are often overlooked by the mainstream media (as I said, everywhere in the world) because of editorial biases. A citizen journalist exposed a corrupt police officer on the internet, and eventually, there was action against him.
Also in Pakistan where I live, a young girl lost her life to medical negligence. Through a campaign by her family on the internet, phone and billboards, it was possible for them to find justice for the death of their daughter.

NewsMeBack: Where do you see future of citizen journalism?

Naveen Naqvi: I think and hope that there will be more of it as the mainstream media seems to have no option but to turn to internet content and people-powered news.

For more details about Naveen Naqvi and her carrier visit her blog naveenaqvi.com