Citizen Journalism in Baltimore
Although there were a lot of options to choose from, the most interesting examples of Citizen Journalism were BALTILEAKS and Baltimore Slumlord Watch. These were the first two sites that appeared when I conducted my search. BALTILEAKS is an interesting site. It consists of information that is of public value. Some documents include reports prepared by private organizations or datasets that have value to the public. One article I read was titled, “Correcting The Baltimore Sun’s Faulty Polling Analysis”. This is an example of citizen journalism because it allows for the public to gain information that news reporters tend to report. Baltimore Slumlord Watch is truly fascinating. The site consists of vacant properties available in Baltimore City. These homes were either owned by drug dealers or the owners could not afford the rent. This is a great example of a blog. Pictures are posted throughout the site in order for the viewer to see the home that is available. I found this site to be creepy but I am sure some residents of Baltimore find it to be helpful. One last blog is the Baltimore Chop. The Baltimore Chop is a blog created by one writer who describes the Baltimore he lives in. From entertainment to sports, the writer describes his nights out on the town. This is a great site for people who want to learn about the city’s culture.
