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Crowdsourcing: Can you be a citizen journalist in your town?
By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing
February 4, 2008

What is Crowdsourcing, and how can you get involved?

I wrote a column about Crowdsourcing, which published in Sunday's print edition of the paper, but here's a quick overview:

I should probably introduce myself: Gabe Semenza, Victoria Advocate journalist.

Crowdsourcing is a fancy word for citizen journalism – kind of.

“It’s a process in which readers submit individual reports that are collected into a larger dataset for use in reporting a story,” the Online Journalism Review notes.

You, me, your neighbor down the street, the business owner, the bored employee, retiree and stay-at-home parent can attack a story thoroughly. We can collect facts, pictures, video and audio.

The Internet allows us to meet in one place – as a group – to share the information, form stories and then publish it for the greater public’s digestion.

We can cover just about anything.

The only restriction I’d request is that the information we share be factual.

In working together, let’s not spread or start rumors.

If you hear a rumor and would like it verified, e-mail or call me. If I can confirm it, we can share it publicly in this blog and unleash the group on it.

Contact me at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com.

We can update everyone online about the progress we each make – and encourage each other all the way to publication day.

Look for the Crowdsourcing logo in the paper. It'll be attached to the stories we worked together on in this blog.

To get the ball rolling ...

Offer a story idea we can all work on. Once a list is compiled, we can vote on which story to attack. From time to time, I'll solicit your help on a story, too.

At a certain point, we may all be working on numerous stories.

So, what story out there needs covering? What facts do you have to share about it?

Again, if you know a rumor, call me first so I can verify it. I look forward to working together.

Comments


  • blampley blampley Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    A story on both the Republican and Democratic parties in Victoria.  Who organizes democratic functions or Republican functions like Ron Paul.  Was that done by Ron Paul supporters only or by Republicans? 
    Story regarding the high cost of family Health Insurance for working families here in Victoria as opposed to the free medicaid that non working people receive for their children.  I think it would make an interesting story especially right now.  Personal Interviews at home and questionaires distributed where people work could provide revealing material and food for thought.  Might also cover small business owners who also cannot afford insurance for self or employees. 

    February 6, 2008 at 6:47 p.m.