Interactive journalism is a new type of journalism that allows consumers to directly contribute to the story. Through Web 2.0 technology, reporters can develop a conversation with the audience.[1]
The digital age has changed how people collect information. Newspapers, once the only source for news, have seen declines in circulation as people get news on the Internet for free.
Interactive journalism has developed as an effort to redefine and reengage the audience. It has the potential to redefine news, allowing the consumer to determine what has news value. He or she can then become the producer and/or editor of the news. As the role of the consumer is being redefined by the easy access allowed by the Internet, journalists are also in the process of redefining their roles.
Interactive journalism is similar, but not identical, to collaborative journalism, in which rather than converse with the reporter, individual reporters without affiliation to the parent organization contribute and provide news items and reports
One of the most popular interactive journalism tools are blogs, which allow grassroot news to be developed by eyewitnesses or those with expertise or interest in a particular subject area. Bloggers often cite and link to mainstream news articles and mainstream journalists often get story ideas from blogs they monitor. The blog format allows readers to add further information or corrections.
Many blogs syndicate their content to subscribers using RSS, a popular content distribution tool.
Besides conversations, videos, audio slide shows and games are employed to convey information.
Interactive journalism is often associated with civic journalism for its ability to explore new and creative ways to amplify community conversation with the idea of solving public problems.
Interactive journalism is being pioneered and supported by Jan Schaffer and J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, of which Schaffer is the Executive Director, at the University of Maryland. J-Lab is the successor to the work Schaffer led at the Pew Center for Civic Journalism. J-Lab's Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism honor spotlight news and information that is more than multimedia journalism and rewards novel efforts to involve citizens actively in public issues, to invite their participation and create entry points that stir their imagination and engagement. 2007 Grand Prize was awarded to techPresident.com
Another approach to interactive journalism is in development at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, at the University of Nevada, Reno, in the Interactive Environmental Journalism Masters Program.