Research into Citizen Media

Find here emerging qualitative and quantitative research into citizen media ventures.

Citizen Journalism: Back to the Future?

While the term "citizen journalism" is new, the concept is literally as old as the rocks. The cave dweller who painted a bison on his cavern wall was unlikely a fulltime chronicler of that eon's events - he was more likely a hunter who wanted to share his adventure. University of Missouri School of Journalism Professor and MyMissourian.com founder Clyde Bentley examines the concept of citizen journalism; from the dusty cave-dweller beginnings to Facebook to what the future holds for newsroom journalists. Commissioned by The Carnegie-Knight Task Force on the Future of Journalism Education.

Citizen Media: Fad or the Future of News?

A Ford Foundation funded study of citizen media sites in the United States. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 founders of and contributors to citizen media sites, and hundreds of site contributors were invited to take part in an online survey.

Frontiers of Innovation in Community Engagement

The Center for Citizen Media created this report on how traditional news organizations are encouraging audience involvement. The report was written by Lisa Williams, founder of H2otown.info and Placeblogger.com, with Center for Citizen Media Director Dan Gillmor and journalist Jane Mackay.

Hartsville Today: The first year of a small-town citizen-journalism site

Journalism's future may well be in the hands of your readers already, in their cell phones, their iPods, their digital and video cameras. We have become a world of content creators, and if you don't find a way to engage them in your product, they may well establish their own.