Broadcasters give citizen journalists tools to report

The BBC is expanding the number of reports available for UK viewers to download online. Over 80 online news reports covering iconic events from the past 50 years have been made available this week by the BBC.
It follows a move reported here last year in which ITN and Channel 4 in the UK provided online news editing tools for viewers - see the website at www.channel4.com/breakingthenews. The Channel 4 site will also offer master classes with ITN journalists as well as a course in broadcast news.
The BBC bulletins cover a range of events including the fall of the Berlin Wall, crowds ejecting soldiers from Beijing’s Tianamen Square and behind-the-scenes footage of the England team prior to their victory in the 1966 World Cup.
The reports are being offered as part of the The Open News Archive www.bbc.co.uk/opennewsarchive, a new pilot service being offered by the BBC which allows the UK public to use it to create content of their own.
The clips are being made available under the terms of the Creative Archive Licence, which was launched last year by the BBC, bfi, Channel 4 and the Open University. People will be able to download the content, and edit into their own creations.
Helen Boaden, Director of BBC News, says: “This trial is an important step in allowing us to share with our audiences the extraordinary news archive which the BBC has recorded over the years. We look forward to getting their reaction.“

Matt