Description: Ari Soglin: An insider's views on citizen journalism
--> Friday, January 12, 2007 No citizen journalism story about CitJ site The thorny question of when to allow businesses to post material about themselves on citizen journalism sites is getting some attention ( here and here ) after The Star Press , a Gannett paper, nixed an article about community web site Muncie Free Press . When I was at GetLocalNews.com , we crafted a policy intended to address such situations.
Here's what it says:
We allow businesses to use Readers Write to inform readers about their businesses if their articles are labeled "PRESS RELEASE" in the headline. The articles also must provide specific information about the business's expansion, relocation, release of a new product, etc. -- in other words providing news, not just promotional content. For instance, a submission about a new business opening would be appropriate if it said specifically when and where the new store or office is opening.