The rise of Brown Moses: How an unemployed British man became a poster boy for citizen journalism

The rise of Brown Moses: How an unemployed British man became a poster boy for citizen journalism

We've written many times about how social media and what Om likes to call the "democratization of distribution" have changed the way that journalism works in a digital age, and how various media players — from The Guardian to NPR's Andy Carvin — have made the practice of "open journalism" one of their guiding principles. But there is probably no better example of this new form of journalism at work than Brown Moses, an otherwise unremarkable British man who has become the go-to source for information about weapons in Syria.

http://gigaom.com/2013/11/19/the-rise-of-brown-moses-how-an-unemployed-british-man-became-a-poster-boy-for-citizen-journalism/

Citizen journalism today

Citizen journalism today

After writing about citizen journalism for 5 full years, from the time when almost no one knew the term – citizen journalism, till now – when it's inevitable part of the media, we can definitely say that it was an interesting journey.

We had great pleasure of doing 33 email interviews with people who are related to citizen journalism through their work – new projects, websites, programs, applications, webinars, books, training … List is really impressive and long.

http://www.newsmeback.com/blog/personal-opinion/citizen-journalism-today/

On show this week: the future of mobile filmmaking

On show this week: the future of mobile filmmaking

The future is mobile, and mobile is the cornerstone for a series of events at AUT this week exploring mobile technologies in film, education, business and creativity.

Films from all across the globe will be displayed at the third International Mobile Innovation Screenings this week, showing the amazing filmmaking that can be done just off a smartphone.

http://www.idealog.co.nz/blog/2013/11/show-week-future-mobile-filmmaking

Can citizen journalism end the silence on Direct Action? Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports

Can citizen journalism end the silence on Direct Action? Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports

For a political party with a belief in the power of the market, the Coalition's climate change policy is a thoroughly disappointing piece of work. Direct Action does not address the source of our carbon emissions and may be based on incomplete scientific research.

Not that Australians would know this, given the lack of scrutiny from mainstream media.

http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/18/can-citizen-journalism-end-silence-direct-action-errol-brandt-e2mq173-reports/

Syria's Silent, Chilling Epidemic of Journalist Kidnappings

Syria's Silent, Chilling Epidemic of Journalist Kidnappings

Thirty journalists—half of them foreign reporters, half of them Syrian—have been kidnapped or gone missing in Syria, theAssociated Press reported this week. The number is unprecedented. Syria today is the scene of the single largest wave of kidnappings in modern journalism, more than in Iraq during the 2000s or Lebanon during the 1980s. A combination of criminality, jihadism and chaos is bringing on-the-ground coverage of the war to a halt.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/11/syrias-silent-chilling-epidemic-of-journalist-kidnappings/281574/

Tip: Watch WSJ video on impact of mobile on journalism

Tip: Watch WSJ video on impact of mobile on journalism

For those trying to get to grips with how best to reach mobile audiences with their content,this short video from the Wall Street Journal (embedded below) is well worth a watch, not only to soak up some of the advice of those within digital-native outlets such as BuzzFeed, Mashable and Circa (and those with more traditional roots, like the WSJ), but also as a useful reminder about the different ways digital content is discovered, and the resulting demand for new approaches.

http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/2013/11/13/tip-watch-wsj-video-on-impact-of-mobile-on-journalism/

Create Your Own Virtual Newspaper with the App Follow My News

Create Your Own Virtual Newspaper with the App Follow My News

Follow My News is a social networking and news application where the news is generated by you. Create your own news posts, add your own photos, the possibilities are all yours. Enjoy the ability to create and follow your own newsstand of different newspapers created by people all over the world. With Follow My News make your news completely yours and completely social.

http://appdictions.com/create-virtual-newspaper-app-follow-news/

Get Your Kit On: Some Low Budget Options for Filmmakers

Get Your Kit On: Some Low Budget Options for Filmmakers

Earlier this year I set out on a rather mad adventure to make a feature documentary about an audacious and provocative protest against the world's flagrant attempts to sexualise and commodify childhood. The film follows award-winning performance artist Bryony Kimmings and her 9-year-old niece Taylor, who decided to take on the global tween machine at its own game by inventingCatherine Bennett, a dinosaur-loving, bike-riding, tuna-pasta-eating pop star (yes, really). They vowed to make her world famous to prove that an alternative was possible, and I vowed to document their journey.

https://shootingpeople.org/blog/2013/11/get-your-kit-on-some-low-budget-options-for-filmmakers/

14 Inspiring 1-Minute Films About the Environment

14 Inspiring 1-Minute Films About the Environment

TVE (Television for the Environment) presents the videos of 14 finalists in its global environmental film competition.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/11/12/14-inspiring-1-minute-films-about-the-environment/

So Twitter is ruining journalism? Really?

So Twitter is ruining journalism? Really?

There is no quicker way for old institutions to look irrelevant than to insist on their relevance. Today the Australian did just that by publishing an editorial not only bragging about its superiority, but underlining the "path to ruin" that is (other) journalists using Twitter.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/13/so-twitter-is-ruining-journalism-really