Is the San Diego News Network, SDNN.com, the future of citizen news & journalism?

Is the San Diego News Network the future of San Diego news & journalism or the next big hype?

I've been asking myself this question since I read an article describing the new SDNN.com in San Diego's CityBeat magazine this week.  The service has yet to debut, and its launch date has been pushed to the end of March 2009., but CityBeat describes the service as follows:

"The foundation of SDNN will be content provided by partner news organizations from around the region. Local community and ethnic newspapers, plus 1090 XX Sports Radio and Channel 6 San Diego will contribute content. (James also approached CityBeat, but the paper won't be taking part.) In exchange for free podcasts, video and stories, SDNN gives its partners increased exposure and a percentage of ad revenues. As Dex Allen, CEO and chairman of California Communications, which runs three North County community newspapers, put it, "The sum of the parts is greater than the whole."

To accomplish another part of its mission-providing local news at the neighborhood level-Bry said SDNN has contracted with freelancers to cover neighborhoods where they have no media partner. At the other end of the spectrum, she also said they'll subscribe to The Associated Press for national and international news.

In a system with news coming from all directions, the backbone of SDNN will be its content-area editors. Staff editors will manage sections on sports, lifestyles, politics and business, but SDNN has also recruited contractors to manage other sections."

Please share your thoughts on the new service here, particularly reviews once it debuts in a few weeks.

I wonder, while this looks like a new way of organizing some traditional local media, and bringing in some of San Diego's forcibly "freelance" journalists, is there really a new approach to news taking place here, or is this simply same ol' with slight reorganizing?

I also wonder about more basic citizen journalism, and if the SDNN.com will incorporate and share revenue with individuals who want to participate in a decentralized news service?

What do you think about SDNN.com?  Post your comments below!

Find additional articles by

Related Topics: 

Related Types of Content: 

Additional Tags: