Don't Throw Your Shoe at That TV -- Make Your Own Media!

Know that you are not alone. Better still, there are alternatives. No need to sacrifice your shoe or your screen.

Common people, frustrated by mass media news coverage and now, liberated by today's technology, are making their own media. This is the time to join them!

It's no minor trend. Broadcast and cable news networks such as CNN and Fox News now include blog citations in their newscasts.

In addition to blogs and written articles, citizen journalists produce photos, videos and podcasts. An ever-growing array of sites has sprung up these pieces -- many for free (typically with ads). Some of them pay, either directly, or via affiliate ads, or by offering opportunities to apply for freelance gigs.

Sites are emerging that, like Hub Pages or Squidoo, openly welcome the public to write articles, but these sites specifically focus on reporting current events.

If you're into good old-fashioned blogging, many hosts offer affiliate advertising to monetize your blog. Some bloggers post a "Donate" button on their blog's side panel.

DigitalJournal.com -- Users can post blogs, join groups and forums, and subscribe to news and alerts -- all for free. But users can also apply to become paid Citizen Journalists. Citizen Journalists receive a share of DigitalJournal's ad revenue. Applicants must submit a writing sample. DigitalJournal's standards are based on those of classic journalism.

WireTap Magazine accepts work from all ages, but its mission is to train young adults to become skilled journalists. Writers 16-28 years of age get top priority for publishing. WireTap pays $50-$250 for each article accepted, depending on quality of writing and research.

Living on Earth is an independent media program. If you feel your skills are up to the professional level, you can submit podcast (audio) reports for their consideration; the sound must be high quality. The basic pay rate is $100/minute, rounded to the nearest 1/4-minute. Average lengths are 5-7 minutes.

Helium features both news and opinion. Its community culture is highly competitive. Members can create their own titles, but the best rankings and earnings typically come from Helium's own ready-made titles. The best moneymakers are Helium's Marketplace, where members vie for direct payment from publishers, and from contests on the site. Earnings stop if a member has been inactive for 6 months. A member's standing is based both on quality of articles and on how active they are in ranking other members' articles.

Sometimes it's the message, not the money that matters. Even so, developing new skills and gaining exposure -- both for underreported news items and for oneself -- can put newer writers on the path toward expertise and recognition.

Volunteer journalists have a variety of media to choose from -- text, photos, videos and podcasts -- and a variety of platforms.

Blogs

In less than a decade, blogs have become a classic tradition. The sheer proliferation of blogs means that quality is a must. Impeccable facts (gleaned, preferably, from more than one source), original written content, and excellent spelling and grammar are essential.

Free blog providers abound; among the more prominent are: WordPress.com, Blogger and LiveJournal, which also provide online communities for their users. To be effective, bloggers need to make relevant, newsy posts on a regular basis, typically daily or weekly. Bloggers can ease the burden by forming a team and rotating posts. Link-sharing among friendly blogs can help grow the readership for each blog.

Online Outlets & Communities

AlterNet is funded by a combination of donations and ad clicks. They accept text articles only, and are selective in approving pieces. This makes AlterNet a prestigious showcase for the skilled reporter.

Indymedia is an international collective of independent media sites. Grassroots journalists are encouraged to submit text, photos, video and audio to the Indymedia outlet closest to them.

AllVoices.com is a little over 1 year old. Reports (text, video or photo) can be submitted via personal computer or texted in via cell phone. AllVoices is unedited and unmediated; automated algorithms keep out the spam and ensure relevance -- no humans involved.

Podcasts & Citizen Radio

Ourmedia.org -- Video and podcast outlet. Users can create their own channels.

... but citizen journalism is only about halfway to the first floor. There's still a lot of room for anyone who's willing to learn and share.

Act now. Your shoes and TV screen will thank you.