What citizen journalists can do right now

Citizen journalism is real journalism

Some of the most important reporting in recent years has come from people who never set foot in a newsroom. A resident filming a council meeting. A commuter documenting an incident on their phone. A community reporter covering a story the local paper no longer has the staff to reach.

That is journalism. It always was.

Report to a standard the public can trust

You do not need permission to take your reporting seriously. You can:

• Check your facts before you publish. Accuracy is the first standard for a reason.
• Distinguish what you know from what you suspect. Say plainly when something is unconfirmed.
• Correct mistakes openly. A dated, visible correction is a sign of a serious reporter, not a weak one.
• Give people a chance to reply before you publish serious allegations.
• Protect your sources. If someone speaks to you on condition of anonymity, honour that.
• Disclose your interests. If you have a connection to the story, say so.

Why a standard helps you

When anyone can publish, the question becomes: who can the public trust? A clear, public commitment to standards is how independent and citizen journalists distinguish themselves from the noise.

It is also how we, collectively, make the case that independent reporting deserves fair treatment and appropriate recognition.

Carry the card, share the cause

IJSC membership gives you a public, verifiable record of that commitment. Anyone — a reader, an event organiser, a public authority — can scan your membership credential and check your current standing in seconds.

It does not grant statutory press access. It does not give you legal privileges. It documents that you have chosen to be accountable for your reporting.

That is a serious thing. And it is enough to start.