Citizen journalists slinging their pen can create a double edged sword. On the one hand, many are directly involved in the stories they report. A good example of this is the trial of Robert Pickton, an alleged serial killer in Canada. There is coverage provided from Orato by former sex workers turned citizen reporters (Pauline VanKoll and Trisha Baptie) who knew the victims that Pickton allegedly killed. The advantage to direct involvement is that the citizen journalist is more knowledgeable about the subject, closer to the subject matter and in theory, more accurate. The disadvantage being whether or not bias exists in their report. In this case, we have to wonder…are the reporters too close to the story to remain objective, or does it mean it could be more valid because they have deeper, more meaningful insight?

Questions of motivation come up. What is it about citizen journalism that is so appealing to many people? For some, it may simply be a hobby, while others may find it a necessary outlet and a chance to be involved in their community and overall history. What about if you are reporting on a story that is close to you? Since citizen journalists are not professionals, they are not technically bound by the same code of ethics, although they would do well to abide by them as their credibility would likely suffer.