Traditional publications are trying to enlist readers into news gathering
In South Korea, citizen journalists played a key role in the election of President Roh Moo-hyun. In London, they provided the only glimpses of the horrors of the dark, smoke-filled tunnels after the bomb attacks last year. And in Hong Kong, they produced inside accounts of the protests against the WTO conference in December.
Their impact may vary but citizen journalists the world over are transforming the traditional media 'audience' of readers, listeners and viewers into an army of reporters, editors and broadcasters. They are forcing newspapers, television and radio to accommodate wider participation in the previously closed process of news gathering.
The problem lies in deciding which of the emerging models to adopt.
South Korea's OhmyNews is often cited as the most successful pioneer of citizen journalism. The brainchild of journalist Oh Yeon-ho was founded five years ago as an 'end to 20th century journalism', and since then has been credited with securing the election of President Roh and turning South Korea's media landscape on its head.
'There are some Korea-specific reasons why OhmyNews has taken off, such as a widespread rejection of Korea's ultraconservative traditional media,' OhmyNews international director Jean Min told the South China Morning Post.