Do-It-Yourself Journalism

In case you hadn't noticed, the Web makes it possible for a lot more people--other than paid journalists to do the job of journalism.

I'm struck by how many folks in the global health community are at least considering that challenge. There's still some uncomfortable--for me at least--confusion about advocacy and promotion vs. news reporting. But I think a trend or at least a trendlet is starting.

There's also a growing list of online resources for non-journalists who want to join the conversation.

Here are a few I've been impressed by. I'll add more as I come across them:


The Poynter Institutes Journalism Resource Center, full of how-tos, bibilographies and lots of links.

Legal Issues:
Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center

The Citizen Media Legal Guide from the folks at Harvard's Berkman Center

New Media
Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive (also available in Spanish and Portuguse)

Software/Low-Cost:
Soundslides Create Flash animated slide shows (with audio narration) without having to know (or buy) Flash

Software/Free:
Audacity. A cross-platform sound editor. Not always intuitive but the right price.