Rami al-Sayed
Rami al-Sayed was a key provider of online videos showing the Syrian government's bombardment of the central city of Homs. al- Sayed uploaded more than 800 videos documenting the situation in the city, and used the video streaming website, Bambuser, to broadcast live footage as security forces attempted to wrest control of districts from the rebel Free Syrian Army by firing rockets, mortars and shells. Rami al- Sayed played a vital role as a citizen journalist at a time where Syria was too dangerous for any mainstream media organisations from other nations to visit. al-Sayed was killed by the Syrian army in February of last year.
Truth Loader
ITN Productions has launched a new citizen journalism channel on YouTube as part of YouTube’s original channels initiative.
The “Truthloader” channel showcases the work of citizen journalists from all around the world with original daily programming from amateur eyewitnesses and passionate online campaigners. From serious current affairs such as action in Syria to funny videos of people falling in to a lake in New York. This webpage will act as an aggregate site for millions of citizen journalists around the world.
In the past, content from citizen journalists such as Rami al-Sayed would not be readily available or easily accesisible as is the case today with websites such as 'Bambuser' and 'Truth Loader'. 20 years ago, even if there were citizen journalists the turn around time would be so long as film would have to be sent physically back to the UK. Nowadays with filming devices that connect directly to the internet, citizen journalists are able to send footage around the world at the push of a button. Audiences of citizenship journalists are able to become members of sites such as Truth Loader and share their opinion on certain matters (an aspect of web 2.0). Some audiences even aid citizen journalists by promoting articles on social media and via email with friends. Social Networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are likely to remain important tools for citizenship journalists in the Web 3.0 era. Whilst these sites are likely to benefit journalists who will be able to share information online at a more efficient rate and aid mainstream organisations who are able to view and use these reports (London Riots), Citizen Journalists must be careful about their online presence in nations which restrict freedoms of opinions online (such as China). It is likely that the web 3.0 era will create greater difficulties for journalists to hide their online presence from such nations.
