'Please don't call it Citizen Journalism'

NowPublic, the grassroots media site out of Vancouver that enlists people to share their newsworthy photos, unveiled a very cool new look today. Tagline: fresh, crowd-powered media. (Disclosure: I'm on their Advisory Board.)

I met for a coffee the other day with co-founder Michael Tippett, who flew down from Vancouver for some meetings in the Valley. Also videotaped him, but for the moment I can't get it off my camera phone. Mike just penned the following, which I agree with:

Please don't call it Citizen Journalism

When you build a bookshelf you don't think of yourself as a citizen carpenter - you just need a place to put your books.   The same is true for news.  When I tell a friend about something I saw while walking to work I don’t imagine myself sitting in front of a teleprompter.  I am telling a story because I want to express myself.  To think of people who have something to say as journalists is the wrong starting point.  Sharing your photos, videos, stories and reading lists are natural impulses.  Journalism has nothing to do with it.  More often than not people are sharing what they know because it's fun.  Good journalism through fun … that's our secret motto.  Shhhh, don’t tell anyone they’re actually doing journalism.