Citizen (Crowdsourced) Journalism

January 26, 2010 4:01 AM

Is there something you wish would be reported comprehensively by mainstream news media, even though they won't likely touch the topic? Try open-source reporting. From the 2006 experiment NewAssignment, professional journalists, non-profits seeking crowdfunding, and the Internet public have collaborated to do in-depth investigation and reportage of whatever people were interested in. Jay Rosen, founder of ExplainThis, the newest site in crowdsourced journalism, wants a way to answer questions that are too complicated for a Google search. Will these things deliver well-researched thoughtful analysis, or will they be no match for the Green?
posted by divabat (8 comments total)

Sounds really great, although the helpmeinvestigate.com link is inexplicably blocked by my usually-permissive workplace filter.
posted by DU at 5:48 AM on January 26, 2010

I don't want this to sound like a one-word "meh" comment, but that's what a lot of this stuff makes me think, and I honestly believe that goes to the heart of the matter. I read some of the early NewAssignment stuff and it was amazingly boring — a flatness of tone, especially, that is one of the major ways in which crowdsourced journalism doesn't come close to, say, a really good New Yorker piece by one specific person, filtered through their unique sensibility. That's partly why I think Jaron Lanier's book is important. While embracing the amazing potential of the hive mind, we're in danger of forgetting that it lacks a lot of the advantages of the individual mind.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 5:51 AM on January 26, 2010

filtered through their unique sensibility.

judith miller i rest my case
posted by DU at 5:55 AM on January 26, 2010

Question: How many cities or police departments use surveillance drones? How many are planning to?

Answer: 1st question : 12, 2nd question : 31 -- posted by anonymous

In-depth analysis.
posted by WPW at 6:44 AM on January 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Welcome to the exciting new future where no one is paid except PR flacks, but it's okay because we have axegrinding kooks as well.
posted by Artw at 7:06 AM on January 26, 2010 [5 favorites]

"MSM!!!" "JUDITH MILLER!!!"
"JAYSON BLAIR!!!"

so fucking tiresome
posted by mr.marx at 8:04 AM on January 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yes, the current news establishment where Judith Miller is the standard all journalists aspire to IS fucking tiresome.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:40 PM on January 26, 2010

Yes, the current news establishment where Judith Miller is the standard all journalists aspire to IS fucking tiresome.

cite please. Oh, I see: you're a troll.
posted by lalochezia at 1:08 PM on January 26, 2010