We here at West Virginia Watchdog are proud to present to you an article written by our friend Jason Stverak.

Stverak is the the President of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Both the Franklin Center and the Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia support the work of West Virginia Watchdog, much like the Ford Foundation or the Archer Daniels Midland Company supports the work of PBS.

In the article Stverak talks about citizen journalism, which is something West Virginia Watchdog would love to support. So if you know of any citizen journalists that need attention, please email me at steven@westvirginia.watchdog.org.

Now on to the article:

Gerry Storch quotes some people who miss the point in his Feb. 26 column, The pros and cons of newspapers partnering with ‘citizen journalism’ networks. Four sources who cited “The Negative” about citizen journalism do not understand what it truly is and does. Even the five professionals quoted for “The Positive” disparage the credibility and integrity of citizens who choose – as did those at the founding of our nation — to make journalism their chosen field and passion.

The point all of them miss is traditional news media reporters and editors are being devastated by a financial crisis, not a journalism crisis. Somebody has to fill the void.

Those of us who work with citizen journalists in online news ventures know better than anyone what a tough, disciplined calling it is. That is why we hire professionals and rigorously train citizens.

We also know the future is online. And online news produced by citizen journalists can toss traditional media the lifeline they so desperately need.

Face facts: Traditional media have put journalism last for at least a decade, cutting thousands of jobs and wondering why readers, viewers and listeners flee. America lost a generation of professional journalists. That is a serious threat to self-government. How will we replace them?

Reanimation of journalism arises in online news ventures. The blogosphere is no longer just for the ranters and ideologues. Increasingly, straight-shooting journalists cut from newsrooms join online non-profit ventures. There they get the opportunity to reemerge as hard-news reporters of yesteryear who investigate stories traditional media now cannot or will not cover.

By decentralizing the news business, investigative reporters for online non-profits are creating quality coverage of America’s most important issues and making it available to all.

The rise of online non-profit investigative journalism stems not only from the overall newsroom cuts around the nation, but also from the growing vacuum in state-based coverage. Many traditional newsrooms no longer have the staff or financial resources to send a reporter across town, let alone cross-country, to investigate a story.

For at least a decade, newspapers have curbed reporters’ ability to investigate major stories while producing daily beat copy to feed the beast. With the accelerating decline of professional investigative journalists at state-wide newspapers and television stations, how is corruption supposed to be exposed? Who is scrutinizing the mountain of public records and attending meetings? Who is developing sources and asking tough questions to expose fraud, corruption and waste?

Read the rest here – The pros and pros of ‘citizen journalism’

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