Can Analysis be Citizen Journalism, too?

The practice of "citizen journalism" can, and should, encompass more than simple news reporting and first-hand accounts. It seems to me that people who self-publish analysis of current events, and who strive for objectivity and transparency in that effort (rather than agenda-pushing), are providing a journalistic service.

Of course, such analysts might not describe themselves as "citizen journalists." Case in point: Lately I've been reading an excellent weblog, "Econbrowser," by James D. Hamilton, professor of economics at UC San Diego. Hamilton is a talented writer, mainly because he appears to be a clear thinker -- that is, he has a gift for getting right to the point, in plain language. (At least in this blog; I haven't read his academic work.)

Check out this analysis of the economic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which he published yesterday: "The calm after the storm."

Here's why I think this piece could be considered an exemplary work of citizen journalism...

ANALYSIS IN A NEWS CONTEXT

Analysis has always been a cornerstone of the news. After all, people don't gather and share information for its own sake. Rather, we have an innate need to create meaning, so we can understand and act effectively in the world.

When facts conflict, are incomplete, or when they don't speak easily for themselves, it helps to see what meaning others have culled from a stream of information. Whether you agree with a particular analysis or not, simply considering someone else's thoughts can help you clarify your own -- especially where current events are concerned.

ABOUT HAMILTON'S ARTICLE

Here are some reasons why I consider Hamilton's article to be a work of citizen journalism. I have no idea how he would react to that categorization, but I will see what he has to say.

• This is NEWS analysis. Current events are the main focus of this piece. Hamilton is not examining an abstract economic concept, nor is he analyzing historical situations or academic themes. He is offering an interpretation of current events, and his opinion on the future, from an expert economic perspective. All of this is foreshadowed and encapsulated in a strong lead: "Time to assess the storm damage.  From an economic point of view, it looks costly, but manageable."

• Includes some direct cites from primary sources. Hamilton demonstrates that he has performed some original newsgathering on this topic. He's not merely highlighting or parroting existing stories -- he gathered firsthand facts and synthesized them. These include statistics from US government agencies (MMS, BLS)  and price data from NYMEX and the Chicago Board of Trade. (He does also refer to some recent stories from mainstream news organizations such as Bloomberg and AP. However, he doesn't rely solely on such secondary reports.)

• Other perspectives presented. Hamilton clearly keeps up with many economic "thought leaders," several of whom have their own weblogs. In this case, he's shown how he's considered other relevent perspectives (i.e., Mark Thoma) while forming his own.

• Transparency: Links to all sources. Wherever possible, Hamilton provides links to every source he cites. In online media, such links have become an indispensible hallmark of credibility -- that is, if you can link to a source, you should. When your audience can directly examine your sources, they can better gauge your overall expertise and credibility. (I wish more mainstream news organizations would recognize this and include more direct source links in their online venues.)

• Not by a news professional. As far as I can determine, Hamilton is not currently employed by a news organization, nor does he earn his living by covering the news. He has been extensively published, but mainly in economic journals. Econbrowser is, like most weblogs, an independent project by Hamilton.

So... what do you think? Should this type of analysis be considered a work of citizen journalism?

Comments

[James Hamilton]

Thanks so much for your positive comments.

Although many bloggers (as well as professional journalists) have a particular agenda, my goal is always to try to sort out the truth, at least as I see it, and then communicate it. I guess this is in many ways a pure journalistic ambition, though I hadn't thought of it that way until seeing your analysis.

The other thing I'm trying to do with my blog is to bridge the gap between academic economics and the broader world and policy issues at large. In some cases, there are things that I think academic economists understand clearly enough, and it's largely a matter of communicating these insights to others. In other cases, it's a matter of rethinking our theories and figuring out how to reconcile them with sometimes messy and complicated facts.

I find it challenging and fun to try to sort out current economic developments on a daily basis, and it's definitely enjoyable when I receive as nice feedback as you've provided here.

[Amy Gahran]

Thanks for responding, Prof. Hamilton.

You wrote: "...my goal is always to try to sort out the truth, at least as I see it, and then communicate it. I guess this is in many ways a pure journalistic ambition, though I hadn't thought of it that way until seeing your analysis."

Yep, I'd say a desire to discover and share the truth is a leading cause of acts of journalism :-)

Keep it up! Great work!

- Amy Gahran

[Kelly Green]

Just discovered your other blog.
Thanks for the link to a new blog Amy.
And marvelous work Prof. Hamilton!