User Generated Content (UGC) is something that has been an important part of newsgathering and my consumption of news for a number of years. Just by taking a glance around news websites, it becomes evident that many pictures and video in particular have been sent in by viewers and readers. For me, this is a great thing. Many people have questioned the role of citizen journalism and blogging especially. However, I think there’s a lot to be said for UGC. For example, if a huge fire breaks out at a Manchester factory, video content can be sent to a news organisation within minutes, and it could possibly take hours for a news crew to get there and by then the story is already developing. So, there’s a lot to be said for the citizen’s perspective.
Many news programmes now, also see the need for the viewers contribution. BBC Wales Today, for example have been running ‘Your Stories’ for a while and see the importance of involving the viewer in the news running and operation, it simply isn’t a one way street anymore.
Of course, there are negatives though. The moderation of UGC is essential and as this Guardian blog points out, it’s not cheap. Perhaps this will come to turn around? Maybe the costs and implications of UGC will become too great, and journalism will return to a one way street, but for now, it’s here and it’s here to stay and it’s an important part of storytelling.
Furthermore, the BBC is careful to point out their strict guidelines on user generated content, signalling that they recognise its importance.
Some organisations are already going one step further than simply ‘uploading’ your content – The National Geographic for example is even starting to build tools on their website so that users can edit the material they upload.
For me, though, there’s quite an important relationship between the citizen journalist and the professional journalist. Joe Bloggs who sends in his video of the Manchester fire gets a nice ‘thank you’ from the news organisation and a bit of an ego massage by getting his video broadcast on TV - job done. Of course, the relationship isn’t as simple as this, we must, as journalists, be wary of material sent to us, question its accuracy and the motives of the contributor. It is though, an important way to build contacts. If, as a reporter, you know that Joe Bloggs is in a certain area with a camera, then they could be available again to take some shots. Naturally though, it doesn’t replace the professional’s camera or the professional’s take on the story – but for immediacy, UGC has the upper hand.
Without a doubt, I think this two way relationship which has developed is vital, certainly for the time being and although it is constantly changing, we should be aware of it and the challenges it poses.
1 comment:
Moderation is a key element in the British model of dealing with UGC/Cit izen Journalism but it isn't everywhere.
CNN's iReport is moderated by the group in the same way that Wikipedia is (to an extent anyway).
One question we need to ask ourselves is: should it just be a pat on the back for the cit journo if we are using their content?
Often there isn't appropriate linking or attribution when things are sent in.
This, for me, is a key area that needs to be rethought.
Post a Comment