Technology and

citizen journalism

Presented by Tonyo Cruz to

the Pinoy Citizen Journalism Seminar
Nov. 29, 2009, NIGS Building, UP Diliman
Citizens and citizen groups are
already using tech tools
 14 million
Filipinos use the
internet or roughly
15.1 percent of the
population
 Asia-wide, RP
ranks 10th
 Worldwide, RP
ranks 26th
Internet penetration rate: IWS
Philippines to have 24 million
web users in 2008: ACNielsen
 Up from 14m (2006),
25
7.82m (2005) and 2m
(2000)
20
 Sharp growth due to
the large number of 15
Internet cafes and the
Users
availability of low-cost 10
computers
 Forward, figures to go 5
up by 50 percent every
0
two years '00 '05 '06 '08
No. of Filipino netizens:
DigitalFilipino.com
 19.2 million in
mid-2005 (IDC).
 4 million
Internet gamers
in 2006, 16 million
by 2010 (IPVG)
 600,000 fixed
broadband
subscribers. One
million by 2009
(Siemens)
Internet users by region:
DigitalFilipino.com
 NCR - 9,000,000
 Region 4 - 5,250,000
 Region 3 - 1,800,000
 Region 6 - 1,800,000
 Region 7 - 1,800,000
 Region 5 - 900,000
 Region 11 - 900,000
 Region 1 - 750,000
 Region 10 - 600,000
 Region 8 - 450,000
Internet users by region:
DigitalFilipino.com
What do Filipinos do online?
 Power to the People: Social Media
Tracker (WAVE 3) by Universal
McCann
 This study is very useful in finding out
what potential tools for citizen
journalists
WAVE 3: World and RP
 475 million people worldwide use the
internet (16 to 54 years old)
 15.5 percent of Filipinos use the
internet regularly (roughly 3.7
million)
WAVE 3: Reading blogs
 RP SECOND TO SOUTH KOREA
 90.3 percent of Filipino internet
users READ BLOGS (previously 33
percent in 2006 and 64 percent June
2007)
 3.3 million people, 6.6 percent of
total population
WAVE 3: Writing blogs
 RP IS FOURTH WORLDWIDE
 65.8 percent of Filipino internet
users WRITE BLOGS (up from 14.1
percent in 2006 and 41 percent in
2007)
 2.3 million people, 4.8 percent of
population
WAVE 3: Social networking
 RP IS LEADER
 83.1 percent of Filipino internet
users CREATED A PROFILE ON A
SOCIAL NETWORK
 3 million people, 6 percent of
population
 Friendster rules RP; RP dominates
Friendster (close to 40 percent)
WAVE 3: Sharing photos
 RP IS LEADER
 86.4 percent of Filipino internet
users UPLOADED PHOTOS TO A
PHOTO SHARING SITE
 3.14 million people, 6.3 percent of
population
 “Picture-picture, post natin sa
Friendster!”
WAVE 3: Uploading videos
 RP IS SECOND TO BRAZIL
 60.5 percent of Filipino internet
users UPLOADED VIDEOS TO A
VIDEO SHARING SITE
 2.2 million people, 4.5 percent of
population
WAVE 3: Watching videos
 RP IS KING!
 98.7 percent of Filipino internet
users WATCHED VIDEO CLIPS
ONLINE (up from 39.9 percent in
2006 and 60.7 percent in 2007)
 3.6 million people, 10.4 percent of
the population
WAVE 3: Podcast downloads
 RP is fifth worldwide
 61.8 percent of Filipino internet
users DOWNLOADED A PODCAST (up
from 8.3 percent in 2006 and 26.4
percent in 2007)
 2.3 million people, 4.5 percent of the
population
WAVE 3: RSS subscriptions
 RP RANKS 6TH WORLDWIDE
 45.2 percent of Filipino internet
users SUBSCRIBED TO AN RSS FEED
 1.6 million people, 3.3 percent of the
population
Filipino cellphone users
 As of 2008, about
63 million
Filipinos
 33 million Smart
 23 million Globe
 7 million Sun
 Unlimited texting
 ‘Cheap’ mobile
broadband
Mobile internet in RP
‘Cheap’ internet access
 We can be
connected to the
internet through a
wide variety of
cheap access
points, some free
 P899 DSL
 P5/15 mins
 Internet cafes
 Free WIFI
What do we do now
 Citizen journalists should tap all these
tools!
 Setup individual or group blogs
 Use your phone as a camera,
recorder and internet access point
 Take advantage of cheap or free
internet
Checklist
 Pen and paper
 Computer
 Phone
 Camera
 Voice recorder
 Internet connection
 Basic skills
 Commitment
Blog
 Set up a blog at wordpress.com or
blogger.com
 Text, video, audio, photo
 Build and develop your community
 Be open to discussions and debate
 Expand your reach by bloghopping
and joining blog events and groups
 Study demographics of your visitors
Microblogging
 Twitter, Jaiku and Plurk
 Quick 150-character updates
 May be sent through an internet-connected
computer or a phone
Social networking
 Maximize your Friendster, Facebook
and other social networking profiles
as platforms for your citizen
journalism projects
 Expand and develop audience
 Build network of sources, friends
 Try to set up your own social network
through ning.com
Your own TV channel
Live mobile TV broadcasts
 Using your camera phone and a 3G or
WIFI connection, you can broadcast
live video over the internet
 http://www.flixwagon.com/
 http://www.kyte.tv/
 http://qik.com/
 http://www.livecast.com/
Traditional forms
 Polyeto
 Newsletter
 Peryodikit/Wall News
 Community newspapers
 Student publications
Some ideas

• Your publications can go online

• Your organization can target the
middle class, youth, professionals,
OFWs who are now online
• You can form a group blog focusing
on news and commentary important
to you
• Go for convergence of traditional
and new media
Organizations

• Cause-oriented groups should use

new media tools because they are
there, people use them and we are
now being prevented from doing so
• Involve leaders and members in
developing your media plan.
– Role of leaders and members
– “User-generated” content in the
context of an organization
Can one person do citizen
journalism
 Yes
 But better if you have a partner or a
team
 Training is crucial. Obtain and
improve skills both in journalism and
technological tools
Important links
 RP’s Top 100 Blogs for 2008  DIY Communications for
http://is.gd/9ovQ Citizen Journalists
http://is.gd/9nZo
 Tools for citizen journalism
http://is.gd/9nWr  Mobile Internet Tools for the
Citizen Journalist
 Tools for Citizen Journalists http://is.gd/9o05
http://is.gd/9nWx
 Free Podcast Course
 Message in-a-box http://is.gd/9p7K
http://is.gd/7KMS
 Make Your Own Internet
 List of citizen journ websites Radio Station: ubroadcast
http://is.gd/1oAk http://is.gd/9p7Y
 Ubroadcast
 Rising Voices http://tinyurl.com/2vd2nb
http://is.gd/9nXC

 Personal Media Learning Ctr

http://is.gd/9nYy
Thank you

This presentation will be posted at:

http://tonyocruz.com