I've been part of this march toward citizen journalism for 10+ years... empowerment, tools, access, etc. But it's always made me a bit uneasy. Why?

Because at some level citizen journalist is like amateur surgeon or volunteer astronaut or part-time President. Ok, bad example.

But you get the idea. "Journalist" means a storyteller operating within a set of rules. AT CBS the rules may read one way, at Car and Driver another, and at the local community newspaper differnt still. But there are rules. And while the various journalistic organizations don't publish them... you know they exist.

Now - add in Citizen. Great word. Powerful. An individual who's engaged in some sort of civic expression... exploring issues, sharing opinions, exploding mythes, revealing personal truths. All important (perhaps even essential) to the evolution of the society. But it's not Journalism. And that's a good thing. There is freedom in this emerging form - a freedom to speak in the first person, to get angry, to take a stand, to take on big and powerful interest. But there's also the freedom to be tiny, talk about your world, share your fears and dreams... and simple write what's on your mind.

This is storytelling at it's essence. Critical, personal, and subjective. Journalism - by and large - is not subjective (at least that's what the rule book says).

So I'm trying a new word. Citizen Storyteller. The world story is by it's nature personal. It also ends the debate over the line between fact and opinion. Citizen Storytellers are empowered to tell a story at any scale, and with more of a concern for honesty than for balance.

Citizen Storytellers are volunteers by definition. They're not obliged to 'report' nor are they held to any branded format or rule-book. They also don't replace existing and trusted brands that play by a time honored set of rules.

Citizen Storytellers are essential. They are the voice of the emerging digital democracy. They are amplified by others - so stories that are engaging find themselves moving from the edges of the network to the top... pushed their by peer review and audience engagement.

... to be continued....