[IMC-Editorial] Participatory Journalism

[Louise Brandt Madsen]

We're a group of students from the Danish School of
Journalism, who are currently working on a project about
participatory journalism.

In connection with that, we would appreciate learning more
about the experiences Indymedia has had in that context,
since your site is seen as one of the leading in
participatory journalism. 

We have written some questions below, which we hope you
will take the time to answer - it would be a great help!
Our deadline is at noon (CET) Thursday the 18th of March.

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Louise Brandt Madsen
loma at mail.djh.dk / +45 40 62 60 88

Questions:

- Why did your Indymedia decide to invite the readers to
write articles?

- How has the use of participatory journalism developed at
Indymedia?

- What's the difference between having a journalist write
the article and letting the readers submit theirs?

- In your view, how is participatory journalism any
different than normal letters to the editor?

- How about the credibility? Was that something you
considered before letting the readers submit their things?

- Do you have any ethical guidelines for publishing on the
site? Or is everything allowed?

- Have you considered doing the layout in a way, which
makes it obvious for the reader which articles are made by
the editorial staff and which are participatory journalism?

- Who has the responsibility in case something is wrong?
And if it's the writer's responsibility, has he been
notified of that before submitting his article?

- What are the positive / negative experiences you have had
with participatory journalism?

- What has been the effect of using participatory
journalism?

- Will you use it more in the future?