iReport (also I-Report) is CNN's citizen journalism initiative that allows people from around the globe to contribute pictures and video of breaking news stories from their own towns and neighborhood. It is similar to Wikinews in that it allows, and encourages, regular citizens to submit stories, photos and videos related to any breaking news. Submissions are not edited, fact-checked, or screened.[1] The program was launched on August 2, 2006[2] to take advantage of the newsgathering capabilities of citizens at the scene of notable events. iReport grew out of another related program: CNN's Fan Zone, which allowed viewers to contribute pictures and video from the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Two events in particular highlighted the necessity of showcasing viewer-submitted content during news shows. The tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the 7/7 bombings in London gave citizen journalists at the scene the opportunity to report on the events as they experienced them. Pictures from both were difficult to obtain in the moments after each tragedy. Broadcast news outlets, depending on agency or bureau video, were fortunate to receive submissions from people on the scene. Developing this format became a necessity for cable and network news shows.
As of March 2011, there were 750,000 registered iReport members.[3] The success of iReport has been utilized for specific programs, like the 2007 New Year's Eve coverage featuring iParty in which viewers' photos of their celebrations were shown on television.[4] CNN producers also regularly provide "assignments," for possible inclusion in upcoming coverage.[5]
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Although iReport proved popular from its inception, one event in particular catapulted such citizen journalism onto the international stage. On April 16, 2007, video submitted by graduate student Jamal Albarghouti captured the sounds of gunfire during the Virginia Tech massacre. CNN paid Albarghouti an undisclosed amount for the exclusive rights to the video he shot on his mobile phone. The immediacy of the pictures demonstrated the potential for such content.[6]
Then on August 1, 2007, one day before the first anniversary of the program, the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, again dramatized the potential for this content. Many of the earliest pictures and eyewitness accounts were submitted to iReport.
In 2008, iReport generated controversy for a false report about Steve Job's health, which caused Apple's stock to temporarily drop.[7][8]
In 2011, CNN held the first iReport Awards, with awards being given for seven categories: Breaking news, Personal story, Compelling imagery, Commentary, Original reporting, Interview, and Community Choice. There were also five "Spirit Honorees." [9]
In January 2008 CNN acquired Ireport.com and I-report.com for $750,000.[10] A beta version of the site launched on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. The site, which had its complete launch in March 2008, allows users to submit media and have it instantly appear on the site. CNN Producers will then go through the online submission and select reports for possible airing on the CNN television networks, CNN.com and other CNN platforms. The site also allows iReporters to contact each other. The site functions similar to YouTube and popular social networking sites.
The New York Times described the word "I-reporter" as one of 2007's buzzwords: a word which endured long enough to find a place in the national conversation.[11]
The popularity of CNN's iReport program has inspired a number of similar initiatives by other broadcast news organizations.
Mobile Application Development companies independent of major news corporations have also developed apps which are similar to iReport.
CNN International airs "iReport for CNN." An interactive, international weekly half-hour TV program showcasing the most entertaining, newsworthy and unique iReport contributions and citizen journalism reports on the internet. The show airs Saturdays at 1230 GMT and 2300 GMT; Sundays at 1900 GMT; and Mondays at 1400 GMT and is hosted by Errol Barnett.
Shows can be watched on its CNN show page.
"News to Me" features the week's best viewer-submitted content, along with other videos supplied by Blip.tv, Jumpcut.com, and Revver.com. It airs on CNN's Headline News, Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET and 5:30 p.m. ET. In the early going this site was useful as it presented the work of amateur journalists striving to present news. More recently, however, it has become something of a personal soapbox as well, a sort of venue for personal expression.
IReport and other phenomenon billed as 'citizen journalism' by corporate news networks often offer no pay to contributors including photo and video contributions. While users are granted copyright to their contributions, they often are forced to relinquish control of who uses their work and where their images and video are shown worldwide.[12]