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The article explores the emergence and practice of citizen journalism. The profession of journalism is not only threatened by new technology advances but by its audiences as well. Everywhere citizens are getting connected via the Internet to set the agenda for news, to inform one another about local or global issues, and to form news services. Citizen media is becoming a trend that mainstream news media clearly acknowledge. However, citizen media should not be seen as the end of journalism or news media agencies but as a shift in where value is being formed.

The article describes the growth in start-up community news media initiatives created by citizens as counterparts to their local journalism. Most citizen media people are reacting to the journalism they see in their local communities. Furthermore, there are a number of citizen media initiatives in 2005 that are producing hyperlocal and special-interest news and information and eyewitness accounts from primary media markets to other rural areas. It is apparent that signs indicating that citizen participation in the media can potentially lead to civic participation are emerging.