That is why citizen journalism is going to surpass the big networks. Everyone is now a reporter. - Shawn Hickman

CNN has actual reporters. They aren't allowed on the ground in Iran. Twitter and FriendFeed have Iranian citizens on the ground. Pretty big difference, Don't you think? - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

and yet the BBC manages to get reporters and footage for news stories from there - Darren Christie

big difference. big U.S. media is ineffective in this case - Capn' One Eye - adrift

I don't think it has to be one or the other, I rather think of it as one compliments the other: Citizens get the breaking news to the Networks, who then have the means to spread the word around. - Javier Altman

I think it is an issue of where they can broadcast from. Iran is cracking down and a sat linkup is fairly obvious to see. - Eric - 100% Choice Cuts

Ineffective, but it's not a matter of it being their fault, there's just nothing to be done about it. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Shawn: There's a huge difference between "reporting" and "journalism" - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

a Fail is a Fail. doesn't matter who's fault it is. - Capn' One Eye - adrift

The fail resides in the Iranian government, not within CNN - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

They have at least one reporter (who I know personally) but he's only allowed to give one live report a day... and after a day like today, who knows if they'll even let him do that. - Jen Reeves

Exactly, and what if he gives a live report that the government don't like? - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Not any kid of "citizen journalism" since the beginning of medias people on the scene said what they saw. It is testimonial not journalism. Keenedy assasination was filmed by a tourist not by a camerammeram of CBS, but journalism still exists. Do not make confusion - Gilles Klein

I don't need CNN, I've got Scoble :) - BRҰANSAҰS

Rob, when it comes to situations like this I think the lines a blurred a little. But you are correct. - Shawn Hickman

our (US) newsrooms (on TV and on 'paper') have been broken for years. maybe, just maybe...this will be the final straw. - Carlos Ayala

Chris: and what assurances do you have thet every report you hear from a citizen is accurate? - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

yes Bryan, I haven't needed CNN for a very long time now. - Capn' One Eye - adrift

If I was a government in trouble like this, I would be spreading disinformation on Twitter and FriendFeed myself - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

simple, a single report is suspect. we are not talking about single reports here. - Capn' One Eye - adrift

True that metageoff - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Chris: The people who aren't into social media might want them to digest if for them - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

@Robert, We will make a public group here(ASAP) to cover most important stories there, hope you will encourage others to follow and reshare - Farnaz

I don't think journalism not meeting standards is as important as the potential social media has to make huge changes in the world--when applied correctly. It's not 'us vs them.' It's a realization about how connected we are and how to use that knowledge responsibly. - amymstewart

I think we could argue that we are all journalist working for Twitter and FriendFeed. - Shawn Hickman

Or the Internet - Shawn Hickman

Well, then dammit, I think the Internet owes me a pay raise. I'm gonna call those guys right now! - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

haha, nice:) - Shawn Hickman

Social Media reporting is once again, far different than journalism. Not that the lines don't cross, but we have to understand that "citizen journalism" is generally a misnomer, and does a disservice to the journalists. Citizane reporting is a far more accurate term, and puts more of the onus on the viewer to determine the value of the report and the truth contained therein. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Apples and Oranges - Jeff Shannon

Rob, you're right. It does a huge disservice to the journalists, but now it's up to the REAL journalists to figure out how to use it. I know a lot journalists are upset because the word "journalist" is losing it's value. To me "journalist" and "reporter" are becoming the same thing. It doesn't matter if it isn't true, it's happening. So now it is up to the journalists to take a different approach. - Shawn Hickman

Shawn: journalist and reporter always WERE the same thing. The fact that they were once separated (and they never were in our journalism school) was just an act of hubris. - Robert Scoble

Shawn: agreed. now that those are different jobs, a journalist needs to do what CNN is doing, and digest and piece together the news from the reporters, and deliver something that is more than just reports. And - be able to determine the accuracy and veracity of the stories the reporters are presenting. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Robert: Interesting to hear that. I guess it's like the people in my field who call themselves "Graphic Designers" or "Graphic Artists" it's the same thing. - Shawn Hickman

Rob: I call that job a "curator" or an "editor." In the newsroom the editor did what you are talking about, not the journalists. The journalists wrote reports of what happened or took photos. The other functions in the newsroom decided on whether the audience saw those reports and what they meant. - Robert Scoble

most notable to me today, the vast difference of screen-time on the issue. last week they were asleep. now they are fully aware that the world is watching, connected to the story. they are using all tools available to them. so many sub-threads going on, the revolution is taking place because of the voice of the people in the streets being aware that they are supported- finding that the tech. community is helping them reach around the world. cnn had to change, that was inevitable. we now are in the era of the 'collective pursuit' of the story, to quote Rick Sanchez. - michael sean wright

@Scobleizer find it absurd - due to downsizing - now easy for them to get feed from twitter, friendfeed - courtney benson

Robert: I know I'm splitting a new hair now, but the fact is, now we don't have news being reported by "journalists" - we have the news being reported by simple people who saw it. That's a huge difference, and it makes sense to me to use the different terms to mean different things. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Rob: It makes sense to people who really know the difference, but the common person doesn't. Most people just use the simple or most popular term to describe something, and sometimes that isn't always true. - Shawn Hickman

And also, back in those newsrooms that had "editors" - those editors weren't dealing with what CNN's "journalists" are on live TV dealing with live reports coming in over social media. It's a very different thing as well. Is there anyone you call editor at CNN (for live news?) - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

probably because Iran has one of the largest blogger populations in the world? - grnavigator

CNN stays in London, because like the Obama administration, they don't want to appear to be choosing sides. As soon as it looks like a 50/50 fight or the Mousavi supporters have the edge, CNN will defy Kahmenei and report from Tehran and all over of Iran. CNN and all of MSM have always cherished the "brand extension" of having correspondents in the field, reporters on location and journalists with deep sources investigating important public figures, organizations and issues. CNN's absence from Iran is a business decision, which is why citizen journalism is unstoppable...imperfect...but unstoppable. - Matthew Stotts

Seems like old news/insight to me ... haven't we long known/thought that people can and will go where news organizations cannot? - James Hemby

Christian is Iranian, and was in Tehran since before the elections. She is barred from speaking openly while in Tehran, and we know that right? - Vernonkell