Yesterday I went to the first edition of the 'Rendez-vous des médias citoyens' (a meeting of citizen media) at the SAT. Great turnout for a first edition: 580 people RSVPed. I felt like telling you what shook my left brain cells.



Appetizers first. Véronique Marino had decided to set the table, and here is what I got out of her comparison between the social and cultural revolution launched by Web 2.0 and Copernicus' discovery: its a new way of seeing and thinking the world. A profound modification of social interaction that turns the Internet user into an active citizen. Both emitting and receiving information, the users now get to question those who were, up to now, the only owners and producers of info.

I couldn't help but think about Martin's conference (in French) about the end of the ad agencies, and the similarities between that and what's happening with newspapers and journalists these days.

Three examples of news sites were given, three relevant and inspiring experiences were shared. Citizen media has launched a new way of thinking, a social way of looking at news in brief and at the value of a diversity of sources. The magic word of the day was 'collaboration'. This term brings to an end the vertical movement that was dominant until web 2.0. A horizontal movement took its place, letting all of us put in our two cents. Web 2.0 has put written press in danger, but also let it review its image and innovate to find new ways of producing information. Also, it forced to innovate the way of making profits since, until now at least, free has been the way to go.

Citizen media brings change and initiatives, locally and globally, and this evolution seems to be permanent.

[Translated from a post by Nathalie Goulevant]