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Roy Christopher on Citizen Journalism

This is an OurBlook interview with Roy Christopher, author of ''Follow for Now: Interviews with Friends and Heroes,'' which he describes as "a collection of interviews with minds of all kinds, including many authors, journalists and technology luminaries."

Some critics cringe at the thought of citizen journalism, citing lack of quality. How would you respond to these critics? Are there any steps that newspapers can take to safeguard against inaccurate, dishonest, slanted or otherwise harmful citizen journalism?

RC: Newspapers are not facing a problem of quality of information. They're facing a problem of technology. The organizing principle of the newspaper, unlike that of say, a book, translates easily to the "page" paradigm of the web. Thought it's not perfect and quality of information is an issue, citizen journalism (in the form of blogs, micro-blogs, social media profiles, etc.) thrives online. Newspapers, or rather their owners, will only survive if they learn how to thrive online as well.

No one would pay money at a dentist's office to have a root canal done by a citizen dentist. No one would pay money at a hospital to undergo a gall bladder operation by a citizen surgeon. What makes citizen journalism different in its viability?

RC: Citizen journalism is viable strictly for its potential in representing a diversity of viewpoints. How viable can the quality of information be if it's only coming from a handful of sources?

Do you believe that citizen journalism helps democratize information? If so, how? What do you think the information roadmap will look like in 20 years?

RC: The serendipitous arrangement of the information in a newspaper is expanded and amplified online. Whoever can come correct with the news and information in the fastest, sexiest manner will determine the future of journalism. Citizen journalism will certainly be a part of this evolution. I can't say through what communication channel that will be, but whereas our parents read the newspaper, our children certainly won't.

Is there anything else you'd like to say about citizen journalism?

RC: Citizen journalism can't save newspapers. The question isn't what will save newspapers, it's whether or not they will they survive at all. It's a question of format and delivery, not quality. Since we started externalizing our knowledge and news when we started speaking and writing on cave walls, the format and delivery have gotten faster and more convenient. The telegraph established a major watershed in this evolution by separating communication (and thereby information) from transportation. It made information a commodity, a resource not tethered to the physical world. The Internet only extended and solidified the transition.

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Citizen Journalism Experts

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