First Citizen Journalists Convention

Writing articles and letters of complaint to the mainstream media by the readers is one of the features of citizen journalism.

With the emergence of internet, blogs and web-related innovations have made citizen journalism to be attractive.

Citizen journalism gives the people the avenue to transmit information globally and this gives them the satisfaction to have their stories told without having to go through extreme censorship or total rejection by the mainstream media.

When they chance upon any breaking news, they can take it upon themselves to report by becoming a reporter, editor and publisher all in one.

Citizen journalist is often considered to be people without journalism training reporting the news to a wide audience. And looking at it in a wider perspective, they are actually complementing the regular media.

The beauty in citizen journalism is that they have the advantage to choose their subjects and topics unlike the mainstream journalists who have their specifics and deadlines to meet.

When Malaysiakini opens its door to train citizen journalists, it is actually opening up a whole new world of daring ideas to train man, woman and child to take up the challenges. Since then it was no turning back.

The first convention for citizen journalism was held on 1st. May 2010 at the Annexe (adjacent to Central Market) and we saw newcomers and trained citizen journalists congregated to mark the meaningful occasion.