The pros and cons of newspapers partnering with 'citizen journalism' networks

OJR had an interesting post out today that is making the rounds. But I see a big problem with it.

The headline: "The pros and cons of newspapers partnering with 'citizen journalism' networks."

It's basically an aggregation of quotes from different newspaper people. All the quotes have good points. The basic rundown.

Pro = We can make money off of it.
Con = We still don't really trust "them."

And the problem: This is a one sided newspaper centric conversation.

The important pros and cons of citizen journalism have much less to do with newspapers.

Pro = a healthy and vibrant conversation is good for democracy.
Con = filter failure.

Both the pro and con here touch on newspapers

Pro: newspaper relation: Newspaper typically played this role and need to continue doing so and newspapers are hurting (although not because of citizen journalism).
Con: newspapers respond to the filter failure by providing an authoritative voice.

Interesting that the relationship of the pro and con that come to my mind are reversed in their relationship to newspapers. The pro of citizen journalism can be interpreted as a con for newspapers and the con of filter failure is responded to with editorial voice.

Just a late night thought.

26 February 2010
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