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The American magazine Wired gives a definition for New Media
"Broadcasting from all people to all people"
Some people regard this new broadcasting model as revolution
Because it lets the internet
to emerge many independent alternative media
to breakthrough the information monopolization of mainstream media
In recent year, Hong Kong has appeared many independent new media
Inmediahk.net is one of them
In fact, we published independent publication in 90s
The main reason was some voices were hardly reported by the mainstream media
Until 2000, new electronic media technology has spring up
we think we can manipulate these new technology
perhaps it can reach new audience
or even produce greater influence
Therefore we has established inmediahk.net
In the past, when we published magazines or periodicals
usually we set the features and topics
then published them after discussion
Later, we find the characteristics of internet are more than that
and even needn't do in this way
Because basically there is no limitation of the publish time
In order to publish online anytime
it needs a Content Management System
when the content is uploaded in the internet
it has to follow a certain format
authors can upload their works easily
Because upload the articles is as easy as filling form
As there are certain formats
it facilitates the readers to read and search for different information
Using the Content Management System
writer is no longer restricted by the publish time
All he has to do is to categorize his articles
he can upload it anytime by himself
and add some related tags
netizen can use the same system
to search the information conveniently
Ip Lam Chong states that the idea of Content Management System
is obtained from some oversea independent media websites
In late 90s, oversea independent websites
has raised out a very important concept
that is "Citizen Reporter"
A citizen can explore issues surrounding him
to step in some policy discussion
even influence the government decision
Being a reporter is the action to carry out or intervene module
The so-called intervention of citizen reporter
means they, as citizens, report issues that they care of
in order to arouse the public concern
hope that can affect the policy discussion
The Seattle incident in 1999 was one of the example
In 1999 WTO was held in Seattle
It was the first time that a large number of citizen reporters to step in
Meanwhile, the popularize of internet
allows individual participation
the knowledge of expression and technique are greatly leveled down
At the same time, the concept of citizen reporters has spread out
I remember my first time to do the citizen report
in greater effort was the once at the beginning in 2006
At that time my university The Chinese University of Hong Kong
was cutting a few trees in the campus
The only thing I could do is
I had the feeling there was something wrong in the action
So we tried to understand the issue and published a magazine
Pointed out the related problem and prevented these trees being cut.
Chu has been a citizen reporter for few years
He especially concerns urban development
"There are many levels in this issue
it can be as large as China-Hong Kong integration,
the mass infrastructure such as
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link
Begin with the government announcement, then turn into a positive news
such a non-discussed, non- challenge situation
is really astonishing
Therefore we carried the on-site research and report
Thus this express railway incident
no matter me or people around can explore many news
Chu Hoi *** and a group of citizen reporters
have carried out a series of reports about the express railway
hence exposed its questions
led to the social movement
which demonstrated the power of citizen reporters
Some people said when citizen reporter
released its reports at the new media
their works seem to confront the mainstream reporters
However, Chu disagree with it
I don't use the term "confront"
Because the citizen reporter
widens the spectrum of journalists or news workers
There are many different kinds of news workers
Citizen reporter only focus on the position of spectrum
Shek who works in trade union is also a citizen reporter
His background leads him to contact with more grass root citizens
When I participating the trade union function
I can get in touch with varies groups of friends
and to get known with some neighbors
During our conversation, I can know deeply about their background
One day, Shek joined his trade union
to protest for the minimum wage issue
which led him to write a related article
with more interaction, I found that their stories or experience
were seldom reported comprehensively in the mainstream media
Being a (citizen) reporter
I really hope to express the complete ideas and story
of the interviewees to the readers