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Should citizen-journalists be paid?
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by Albert Milliron | February 17, 2009 at 10:54 pm
355 views | 32 Recommendations | 15 comments
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Citizen Journalism in Mumbai Terrorist Attacks NowPublic Frontpage 11-29
uploaded by Gauravonomics
Should citizen-journalists be paid? As sites like NowPublic and other spread their sea legs into the new world of web 2.0, questions begin to arise on paying writers and photographers for content or maintain a since of objectivity to report real news and not tabloid type articles that drive large amounts of traffic to sites just to receive a payout. Here is an article from the Daily Telegraph that asks some of the important questions being raised in Crowd Powered Media and other Citizen journalism sites. Canadian websites are especially stressed as net neutrality is under attack by broadband companies choosing winners and losers in Canadian markets. This may stifle growth to some companies as the provides make choices who gets the band width. This process could even take on a US Fairness doctrine type scheme by providing higher streams to less trafficked companies or to make choice based mearly on content.
Is paying our photographers and reporters against the spirit of citizen-journalism? It's something that we are occasionally challenged on, but we think is emphatically not the case.
Given the success of Wikis, Creative Commons and open-source, it is tempting to see the future of journalism in free-to-edit, unpaid websites. These sites, such as NowPublic, are popular but have been criticized for being opinion-driven and derivative. You can judge for yourself the standard of articles on such sites, but what is undeniable is that only a small minority of stories are based on first-hand new information. Original journalism is in short supply.
In recent years, virtually all major news organizations have incorporated some user-generated content into their publications, programmes and websites. CNN has i-Report, the BBC asks users to Have Your Say, and Reuters has teamed up with Yahoo to feed it citizen-produced content. However, these projects are dependent on photographers giving away their content for free, whether in charity or ignorance. Their business model is based on citizens’ willingness to surrender their copyright.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 02:15 on February 18th, 2009
Yes! but only for original material; text/photo/video/ If there are ads on a site then there should be some kind of revenue sharing even for copy and paste!
at 05:12 on February 18th, 2009
I agree people should only be paid for original work and not for simply lifting photos and material from news sites. I think sharing news that we find is fine as long as sources are credited by using the highlight tool and entire articles are not copied but this does not deserve payment unless there is a fair amount of original work such as an opinion piece built around a news story included.
On a personal note 99% of what I post is what I find from other sources so I do not feel that I would deserve to be paid.
at 03:41 on February 18th, 2009
For creative, Artistic and Original Material may that be Audio, Video, Art or Text. Original only. I do not agree with Copy and Paste (Highlight) since it is taking some one else's work and using it in part or whole, wish should benefit the original Writer and Photographer or artist but not the one that replicated it. Unless their is a agreement to do so and this has to be shown in the foot notes. Further we need a clear definition of what is what on this issue.
at 12:42 on February 18th, 2009
People should only be paid for original work. (But then again I would say that because I only put up opinion or my own articles!lol)
More seriously, writing reports or opinion takes much more time and thought and research than creating copy-paste post, and good writers are good because they have a talent for writing which should be rewarded. I read and enjoy lots of copy-paste material, it represents valuable input into a site, and it is not to be decried in any way. But it just isn't comparable to creating a text....
at 14:34 on February 18th, 2009
Let the marketplace decide this question. If journalists think their original copy is good enough to get paid for then people will be willling to pay for it. News organizations "sell" news. If your content adds to the value (and hence price) of the news then it will be rewarded or it's suppply will dry up.
at 15:18 on February 18th, 2009
Why bother submitting original work? empty promises guarantee no original work. Still, this is a global community, and sometimes many here post highlights of news that the MSM (major media) neglects and that may not be seen by those on the other side of the world.
Though commenters (many anonymous or with anonymous aliases) sometimes get down and dirty, it just shows how passionate many are about their opinions.
at 15:23 on February 18th, 2009
Every other media is dependant on paid journalists. The Internet did not create a huge extra supply or quality original "news" it just created the incorrect impression in some people that their work as of paid quality. I ask you....would you want your daily newspaper or nightly newscast produced by non-professional, unpaid journalists? I wouldn't and neither does most of the world. Although the Internet and CJ have a role to play it is not going to change the ways "real" news is delivered. If your journalism is good enough to demand payment then go get a job as a journalist. Duh!
at 15:32 on February 18th, 2009
I would certainly agree with that eastvanray. I write my own stuff, but do not expect to be paid for it. I am not a journalist, just a guy with stuff to say and who is pleased to be able to say it and reach people.
Moreover, if my work was ever considered to be good enough to be paid, someone would offer me a job. That is not the case, and I am quite happy with that.
at 15:28 on February 18th, 2009
I want a million dollars per Op.Ed I write! By saying this publicly on Now Public, I can now strut around and state a parties to all who will listen, Who me? What do I do? I write Op/Ed articles, and "I charge a Million Dollars an article", that should get me some hot babes and better Tables at the Ivanhoe or the Cobalt!
at 15:45 on February 18th, 2009
At the 'Ho or the Cobalt those comments will more likely get you offers to sell you your neighbours DVD player, big screen or a gram of blow.
at 15:48 on February 18th, 2009
HA!
at 21:41 on February 18th, 2009
Heyall yia. Barry should of put that in the stimulus package too. I need some free stuff. Where my free stuff?
at 06:51 on February 21st, 2009
I agree Turk, of course charging a million bucks per Op/Ed doesn't necessarily mean I'll get it, but to swagger around and state it, could be impressive~!
at 10:07 on March 5th, 2009
yes! citizen journalists' should be paid for original content only and if they are helping to generate an income for a site.....
at 23:35 on March 9th, 2009
looks like NP can't support all its editors so if this is refers to being paid by NP looks like it won't be happening any time soon!