Cetizen mobile reviews site launches "citizen journalist" section

Cetizen, a South Korean Web site featuring reviews of cellular phones and games (see below), has launched a "Mobile Phone Photo News," a section in its Web site for posting camera phone photos, audio clips and videos, according to JoongAng Daily.

Cetizen has 700,000 members.  The article says, "With the news section, though, the company is seeking to join the ranks of what is called citizen-participatory journalism, such as the online newspaper OhmyNews. 

"Cetizen's offerings, though, will be confined mostly to phone camera images instead of text and, it insists, will take no political stances."

Free postings

Anyone may post a photo for free on Cetizen's site.  However, Cetizen's staff reviews the photos and moves the most newsworthy to the news section. 

"Those submitting can also apply to become phone camera reporters," the article says.

Cetizen's new Web section is just one of many efforts in the camera phone "citizen journalist" environment.  Mainstream publications, both newspapers and magazines, as well as some television stations solicit camera phone photos the document newsworthy events.

Citizen journalist sites

Check out NowPublic, a citizen journalism site that emphasizes camera phones (see below).  For a few years Michael Tippett has been developing beta sites for camera phones.  His most recent was BlueHereNow that has morphed into NowPublic.

He's also sponsoring NowPublic "Citizen Photojournalism Awards for digital camera and camera phone photos.  The deadline for submission is May 19, 2005.

For two other citizen journalism resources, check out journalist Dan Gillmor's weblog and his new Bayosphere venture.  Also, journalist J. D. Lasica's New Media Musing's weblog is great for information about citizen journalism and other, well, new media ventures.

Comments

[Calder Lorenz]

Hey,

As promised, here are the details about NowPublic V3

We will be going live tomorrow between 6am and 6pm (pending the servers showing up to work). You can find a sneak peak here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clorenz/

Feel free to drop me a note with your comments. Thanks. My email address is
clorenz(at)nowpublic(dot)com.

Yrs,
Calder

[Calder Lorenz]

Hi,

As promised, here are the details…

It looks like the NowPublic V3 beta program will be starting next week. Let me know if you want to join us. We’d be very interested in what you think. My email address is clorenz(at)nowpublic(dot)com.

Thanks,
Calder
Email: clorenz@nowpublic.com

[Calder Lorenz]

Hi,

We’ve quietly been working on the next release of NowPublic and it is now – finally - in testing. We still have a few seats left in our beta group so if you’re interested in getting an advanced viewing before we launch please let me know.

In the coming weeks I’ll post additional details here but please feel free to contact me in the meantime. My email address is calder(at)nowpublic(dot)com.

Best,

Calder Lorenz,
Director, Contributor Relations, NowPublic.com

[Tychocat]

*Another* website that would appear to make reporters of anyone. I gotta wonder, does just having a camera give someone that much credibility? I get the impression that people think the only credential you need to be a reporter is to have an insensitive skin. That, and the ability to ask the same question five times after someone else asked the question.