Thinking about Citizen Journalism: Perspectives on Participatory News Production at Community Newspapers

Thinking about Citizen Journalism: Perspectives on Participatory News Production at Community Newspapers Seth C. Lewis Kelly Kaufhold Dominic L. Lasorsa School of Journalism • University of Texas

Digitization and its tension Participatory Professional

Clarifying our concepts Citizen journalism Smaller newspapers Gatekeeping theory

Research questions • RQ1. In general, what do community newspaper editors think of citizen journalism, and how likely are they to incorporate some variation of it in their news operation? • RQ2. How do community newspapers negotiate citizen journalism, as a philosophical concept and a practical concern, in their role as community gatekeeper?

Methods • Systematic sampling of community papers • Semi-structured interviews with 29 top editors • Clarified the question of “citizen journalism” • Transcriptions textually analyzed

Results • Papers took one of four approaches: • 1. Disfavored citizen-J on philosophical grounds • 2. Disfavored on practical grounds OR • 3. Favored citizen-J on philosophical grounds • 4. Favored on practical grounds

Positive opinion of citizen journalism Philosophy Practicality Negative opinion of citizen journalism

1. Disapprove on principle • “News is meant to be reported professionally, not through some random citizen.” • “I guess we kind of feel like since we’re the journalists we need to be the ones writing.” • “I think citizen journalism detracts…. People see us as the authority news source.” • “(We) have to control the content…. We have a good idea of what’s newsworthy based on our experience.”

2. Disapprove for practical reasons • “I’m concerned that … things can be construed as fact when there’s nothing to back them up as facts…it would be pretty labor intensive.” • “I see a lot of the citizen but not a lot of journalism. There’s a lot of slander and personal anger or bitterness, but not news.” • “Things like editing issues, liability problems—they can go unchecked with this sort of thing.”

3. Approve on theoretical grounds • “It’s vital to engaging a community that wants to have more ownership of their local media.” • “…journalism will not be replaced by it but it will be supplemented by it.” • “We’ve got to figure out a way to get the younger people involved and I think that’s the way to do it.” • “We have an open-door policy. We even have students, student journalism.”

4. Approve on practical grounds • “We’re a small paper, it allows us to get stuff in that we wouldn’t be able to send a reporter to.” • “We involve citizens extensively… We have columnists writing about nature, humor, gossip, etc.” • “There is so much more to cover and (only) so many people who are in a position to cover it.” • “Any time you get input from your readers, it’s good.”

Positive opinion of citizen journalism 9 editors 9 editors Philosophy Practicality 7 editors 4 editors Negative opinion of citizen journalism

Thanks. Seth C. Lewis Kelly Kaufhold Dominic L. Lasorsa Contact: seth.lewis@mail.utexas.edu

Thinking about Citizen Journalism: Perspectives on Participatory News Production at Community Newspapers