This is today's Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader; click on the image for a bigger view. The paper has launched a special section devoted to a state audit critical of bidding procedures at the local City Utilities. Engaging in crowdsourcing, the News-Leader has posted documents from the audit on its website. It's asking readers to discuss the audit in a forum, and urging them to send tips to the paper suggesting what it should investigate next.I know many Gannettoids may groan about crowdsourcing and other initiatives as a gimmicky waste of time. But I've been amazed by what readers have told me over the years when I posed open questions in similar public forums. Readers (and TV station viewers) say the darnedest things!
Dec. 24 update: Is this crowdsourcing? See the debate in the comments thread, below.
The News-Leader at a glance:
- Publisher: Thomas Bookstaver
- Editor: Don Wyatt
- Founded: 1867
- Joined Gannett: 1977
- Employees: 380
[Image: Newseum]
I looked up the Springfield coverage and my reading indicates they aren't really crowdsourcing. They are asking readers to suggest questions, but they aren't tapping into readers' experience and expertise as resources. But at least they're giving readers an opportunity to participate.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point. And yet: I suppose they could get the benefits of "readers' experience and expertise'' -- crowdsourcing -- if readers step forward with that expertise, right?
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