1. Lily Canter, PhD student, The University of Sheffield
The source, the resource and the collaborator: The role of citizen journalism in UK local newspapers
Lily Canter, PhD student, The University of Sheffield

2. “There is a role for professional journalism and a role for citizen journalism. The future belongs to both. It is not an either/or.” Keith Perch, Editor Leicester Mercury, May 2011

3. Leicester Mercury
Citizens’ Eye
Established as a newspaper 1874
Established 2008 as a website
Flagship Northcliffe Media newspaper and website (DMGT Group)
Community news: Reporting by the people (independent)
Newspaper readership: 54,000
Website monthly unique users: 388,000 (ABC figures , March 2011)
Website views: 20,000 a month
Local news in Leicester + surrounding area
Issue related news in Leicestershire
60 editorial staff
450 volunteers

4. Theoretical framework
Economic vs civic conflicts
(Jenkins, 2008; Ornebring, 2008; Haas, 2007, Habermas, 1989)
Contemporary role of the gatekeeper
Retaining gatekeeping via moderation
(Hermida and Thurman, 2008; Ornebring, 2008; Deuze, 2006;)
Redefining gatekeepers as sense-makers
(Singer, 2010; Newman, 2009)
Sharing the gates (Paulussen, 2007; Gillmor, 2006)

5. Community reporter roles
Source
Collaborator
Resource

6. Pilot collaboration model (RQ1)
WAVE supplement
Branded weekly page
Branded newspaper content
Website content
Text
Video
Audio
Photos
Citizens’ Eye feeding Leicester Mercury brands

7. Rules of engagement (RQ3)
Leicester Mercury
Citizens’ Eye
Journalist moderation
Setting own news agenda
Accuracy upheld
Responsible for checks
Branded as citizen journalism
Flexibility over style
No automatic right to publication
Cover unreported news
Hard news covered by journalists
May complement hard news coverage
High level reporting
Low level reporting
Court cases
Charity/community events
City council meetings
Ward meetings
Investigative journalism
Self-interest news
Major events and breaking news*
Experts
* These can be complemented by citizen journalists providing additional material such as eyewitness accounts, video, audio and photography

8. Hard news followed up by journalists (resource becomes source)
News desk dictate page no.
Sub editor writes headlines
Branded as citizen journalism
News agenda set by Citizens’ Eye
Photos by Citizens’ Eye
Low level reporting
Self interest news
Flexibility in style

9. Complementary collaboration
“It is not about replacing professional journalists it is about supporting them.” John Coster, Editor Citizens’ Eye, May 2011