Scan-N-Land

Tyros and Pros Together Forever?

At the Web 2.0 conference in Seattle they have highlighted the 13 most promising Web 2.0 startups and it’s amazing what these sites have to offer. OK. So, Web 2.0 is pretty cool. It allows your average Joe and Jane to connect with the world and do some really interesting things. You can practice with professional musicians, publish your photo essays and even be a real life journalist. Some of these sites will even pay you for your services.

At NewAssignment.net, citizen journalists are collaborating with professional journalists to produce content that has gone under the radar or is too local or niche for larger markets to pick up. It sounds like a great idea and a real convergence of citizen journalists and professionals. The problems or debates rather, occur with funding. The site will not necessarily generate money through advertisers but donations, micro-payments, traditional fundraising and syndication rights. The argument is that once people or groups start funding these projects you have a conflict of interest. There will be an agenda to support and the investigative journalism team of pros and citizens becomes a PR firm.

Now, with a potentially huge pool of editors and journalists, there will be a very good and critical oversight committee. I think the citizen journalists will be more attune to this since many blogs have taken on the role of watchdog.

Lots of interesting questions about this site have been asked here.

Now, I don’t think this is the future of the newsroom but one direction the online media landscape is heading.

-Jason Aldag

posted by Mark H. @ 11/09/2006 06:57:00 AM