Britain's premier public broadcasting service has launched a bid to capitalise on citizen journalism.
The BBC's new initiative is being fronted by respected BBC reporter presenter George Alagiah whom viewers, listeners and readers are being encouraged to contact by email. In a news release, the BBC said: 'Everyday we bring you news from across the globe ... but what we want to hear are the issues that matter to you. That is why the One and Six O'clock news are teaming up with News 24 and the BBC News website to bring you Your News.'
Alagiah said:'The days when we were journalists and you sat back and watched the news are over. We want you to tell us what's important to you.' He added: 'The part you play in making the news is very important. With blogs, vlogs, mobile phones and digital cameras it is not just journalists who have a role in gathering the news. What is happening where you live? Is something significant, bizarre or unusual taking place?'
Deborah Hobson, The-Latest's contributing editor said: 'It is a great reminder of the growing importance of citizen jounalism when Britain's biggest broadcaster jumps on the bandwagon. Let's not forget that Guardian Unlimited and Channel 5 have already done the same thing.
The-Latest is at the cutting edge of a news revolution.' The BBC promises that every week they will follow up one of your suggestions so look out for us in a neighbourhood near you. Your News on BBC News 24 is the first news programme to be entirely based on emails and views sent in by the public.
The BBC says the show will be packed with stories, features and videos that have proved most popular with TV viewers and on the internet. Presenters Richard Bilton and Laura Jones are being sent out and about to report on the issues that matter to the public. The BBC urges the public to tune in to Your News everyday at 2050 BST on BBC News 24 and at 0330 and 1530 BST on Saturdays and 1030 and 2330 BST on Sundays.
Like The-Latest, the BBC asks: 'Do you have a story to tell us, what issues have caught your eye or is there something you want us to look into? Contact us using the postform below. Make sure you give us your location and contact details.Do you have any pictures you think we'd be interested in?' But, similar to what we say at The-Latest, the BBC cautions:'If you take a picture you should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.'
Thomas L. Blair is a sociologist and political blogger on the Chronicleworld 'for creative renewal in Black Britain and Afro-Europe'. His work is honoured in the British Library's archive of "social, historic and culturally significant web-based material from the UK domain". He won top prize in the blogging competition on The-Latest.
Sumantra Maitra is a freelance journalist from Mumbai, India. He is a correspondent for All Sports magazine, and a foreign affairs blogger for the Washington Examiner. He has written articles for news website Merinews.com and other regional publications. Sumantra runs a blog at DailyWorldWatch.wordpress.com. He provided exclusive eyewitness reports for The-Latest on the Mumbai bombings of 2008.
Brian Usher is photography consultant for The-Latest.Com. He is a highly experienced editorial and commercial photographer whose work has been published throughout the world, appearing in many well known magazines and newspapers. Brian has featured in several books and has been a writer for the Royal Photographic Society magazine.
Heidi Kingstone has spent time in Afghanistan reporting for a number of publications. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, The Spectator, The Sunday Times and other international journals. She has also reported from places like Iraq, Rwanda, Lebanon, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. Heidi is The-Latest's Editor at large.
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