Open source reporting isn’t defined, but that hasn’t stopped the majority of journalists and mass media scholars from trying. This post will not be another one of those commentaries —- it’s about Muppets.

Ok, it’s mostly about the Muppet Wikia, which is a collection of information created entirely by fans who update it regularly. Now I don’t care about the half Monster, half puppet Jim Henson creation, but there are obviously plenty of others that do care about it passionately enough to write passages, tidbits and “quality articles.” I’m using this example because it was what Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales cited in a recent lecture I attended, (listen to it here.)

The Muppet Wikia is also just one example of a newly emerging medium: the Wikia. The Wikia functions almost identically to Wikipedia. Those who chose to download the source code for their own Wikia have options to alter various settings. Basically, it can be tailor made to fit your needs.

A Wikia on virtually any subject can exist with a community if there is pre existing history about the said subject. Something with constantly updating news would require an entire staff…

…Now, why aren’t local newspapers using this to create a public record of the area they cover? Editors on staff would become the administrators while the journalists would be the most vocal members of this community.

A local newspaper branded Wikia would certainly remedy the difficulty in connecting with their community. You need to allow this community to dictate the content so long as it is unbiased, cites credible sources for new statements, and upholds the same integrity newspapers have always tried to have.

It’s also worth mentioning that the source code is completely free —- A big plus for newspapers running on a shoestring budget.

So I ask again, why am I not seeing more newspaper Wikias?