Is citizen journalism here to stay?

Although citizen journalism is thriving on the Internet, Nicholas Lemann says there is room for professional journalism online. Lemann analyzes the merits of citizen journalism and its long-term staying power in the August 7-14 issue of The New Yorker:

"Citizen journalists are supposedly inspired amateurs who find out what's going on in the places where they live and work, and who bring us a fuller, richer picture of the world than we get from familiar news organizations, while sparing us the pomposity and preening that journalists often display."

Lemann goes on to discuss a few citizen journalism Web sites in detail. His examples include Web sites featured at recent American Press Institute seminars, such as Backfence.com and Baristanet.com. Backfence's Bob Kelly and Baristanet's Liz George both spoke at "Internet Strategies."

Perhaps Web sites featuring both citizen journalism and professional reporting are the ideal model for the future. Some of these sites that were represented at recent American Press Institute seminars include:

Wickedlocal.com - This hyperlocal Web site for south of Boston residents compiles news articles from local publications and publishes exemplary reader-submitted articles. Both professional journalists and citizen journalists blog on the Web site. Robert Kempf, vice-president of interactive media of Enterprise NewsMedia in Massachusetts, spoke at the seminars "Internet Strategies" and "Management of the Weekly."

Blufftontoday.com - This Web site of Bluffton Today, Bluffton, South Carolina's local paper, is an online community portal. In addition to informing residents of their community through local news coverage, the Web site lets residents share their news through forums and blogs. Steve Yelvington, vice-president of Morris Digital Works, the firm that designed the site, spoke at "Internet Strategies" and "MediaPreneurship."