Spring 2007

Localization as a driver for citizen journalism

Research from academia's only hands-on Citizen Journalism teaching laboratory

Hans Meyer

Doctoral student

Missouri School of Journalism

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

The MyMissourianDream Team

The Cyberbrains is an informal group of Missouri School of Journalism researchers with a special interest in citizen journalism and related media issues. We are the core managers of the MyMissourian project.

•As a group, we have authored a book chapter, two conference papers and numerous presentations.

•The research opportunities have also resulted in four theses, one thesis in progress, two dissertation proposals and many individual conference papers or presentations.

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

Hans Meyer• Ph.D. student• MA from Missouri• General manager of The Desert

Dispatch, Barstow, CA• Creator and Managing Editor of

two weekly newspapers, The Hesperia Star and The Virgin Valley Spectrum

For information on this and related research, e-mail Ibold at hkm3hb@mizzou.edu

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

The audience is …

MyMissourian Northwest Voice

18-24 17.4 % 16.2 %

25-34 17.0 % 18.9 %

35-44 22.3 % 29.7 %

College Education 62 % 61 %

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

They read the local newspaper

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

On the other hand …

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

And yet another hand …

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

What they want is local news

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

And they’re not finding it in print

CJ, MyMo and MU Spring 2007

Citizen journalists need a guide

• Registration tripled at MyMissourian after the launch of a print edition.

• More than 30 % said it was important for them to see their contribution in print.

Nearly half of MyMissourian users found the site through a personal contact or the local media.