The schedule for the Beijing Olympics seems to be right on target, with the opening ceremony kicking off as a heartbeat raising spectacle. The internet is being flooded with photo and video footage as the games unwrap.
The GroundReport is asking citizen journalists to take part in covering the Olympic Games live in Beijing. They encourage anyone who is there to take photos, submit videos and cover the stories in any way they like. The winner of their contest will get $500 USD and be featured on the site.
The New York based global news site lets anyone with a passion for reporting to submit their news coverage for a chance to gain exposure and even earn money.
So far videos submitted include topics like air quality and traffic reports, the experience of eating "Beijing Devilish Spicy Chicken," and the art scene in the area.
Beijing Olympics Covered by Citizen Journalists
GroundReport in China
Trend Themes
1. Citizen Journalism - Opportunities for individuals to contribute as citizen journalists and cover live events like the Beijing Olympics.
2. User-generated Content - Increasing reliance on user-generated photos and videos to capture and share experiences during major events like the Olympics.
3. Crowdsourced Reporting - The use of crowdsourcing to gather news coverage and diverse perspectives on events like the Beijing Olympics.
Industry Implications
1. Media and Journalism - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Embracing citizen journalism and user-generated content to supplement traditional news coverage.
2. Technology and Social Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing platforms and tools to facilitate citizen journalism and crowdsourcing of news events.
3. Tourism and Travel - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating new opportunities for tourists to actively participate in and document major events, like the Beijing Olympics, through citizen journalism.