Read this article: http://www.academia.edu/9244613/Journalism_Practice_2014_Contest_over_content_Longitudinal_Study_of_the_CNN_iReport_Effect_on_the_Journalistic_Field (Links to an external site.)
Then watch this clip from the Nov. 28, 2011 episode of The Colbert Report, about CNNs layoff of editors and photojournalists in favor of the crowdsourcing iReport feature: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/qggo98/the-colbert-report-stephen-colbert-s-mereporters (Links to an external site.)
Discuss the points that the academic article and Colbert were trying to make regarding the social newsgathering concept, while addressing the following questions:
    What are the risks of relying too heavily on the public to produce content?
    Where do you see this happening in the media, and what is your opinion of it?
    Is social media-produced content reliable?
    Is this a positive or negative trend for the media overall?

Note; Well written paper and APA will be expected.