How to Become a Citizen Journalist

Everyone has witnessed an accident or current event unfold at least once during their lifetime. Citizen journalism or grassroots journalism is changing the way everyday news is reported. If you can write a blog, you can become a citizen reporter. Here are some helpful steps on how to get started.

Instructions

1. Read articles on how to write a blog. If you are completely new to blogging, start by doing a search for the article titled ¨101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger,¨ written by Kim Roach.

2. Create your own blog. Visit websites that allow you to sign up for free blogs such as Blogger and Live Journal.

3. Make sure to fill out profile information and upload a picture of yourself first when creating a blog account. It allows your readers to see the real you.

4. Get to know other bloggers by posting comments and reading their content. Remember that networking is very important.

5. Learn to write great titles for your articles. Perform a search for the article titled ¨10 Sure-Fire Headline Formulas That Work,¨ by Brian Clark. Read the article and save it to your browser bookmark.

6. Start posting current events or news opinions daily on your blog.

7. Remember to make the news your own. Citizen reporters give news a more realistic human approach. Give authors credit for their writings by listing a proper source link to the original article.

8. Add pictures to your content. Readers are attracted to pictures first and tend to read titles second.

9. Subscribe to RSS and blog directories to attract readers.

10. Syndicate your articles to Shoutwire, Digg, Newsvine, EzineArticles, GoArticles, iSnare, American Chronicle, Technorati, Stumbleupon, Reddit and other syndicating websites.

11. Be realistic. Give your blog time to get popular. Wait at least six months before expecting to see real results.

12. Submit your own articles to be published by citizen journalism websites. This is the best way to get started, gain experience and become known in the alternative media forum.

Tips & Warnings

• Before getting started, visit other citizen journalism websites. Read articles written by other citizen reporters.

Resources

• Find out more about becoming a citizen reporter at cyberjournalist.net.
• Start a free blog or journal today on livejournal.com!
• Create your own blog for free at blogger.com!