Citizen Journalism Best Practices

What are best practices for citizen journalism? If one were to create a guide for citizen journalists, as Kayla has proposed, what would be the best approach? Here are my suggestions.

• Who is the Audience?
  The audience for a guide is different than the general audience that consumes user-generated journalism. Is this a guide for communications and journalism teachers? Is this something that might accompany a citizen journalism platform (perhaps even as part of some training)? See, for example, the various categories in the help section for the AllVoices site.
• Where is citizen journalism happening?
  On private blogs, via news sites? dedicated citizen journalism platforms? Advice may differ based on these factors.
• What media and what technology are used for citizen journalism? Are citizen journalists submitting photos, text messages, videos, blog posts, links, curated content, etc.? Is this submitted via desktop computer or via mobile phone? All of these make a difference in terms of best practices.
• What about existing guides or guidelines?
  Research what's already been done so you can build upon others' work or fill in holes in what they've done. See, for example, the ethical and blogging guidelines from the University of Oregon, or
• When were guidelines published?
  A lot happens quickly in this rapidly developing space, and what was good advice in 2006 may be irrelevant or plain wrong in 2013. Like a good journalist, sleuth out what is most current.
• Who are the experts?
  People like Jay Rosen and Dan Gilmor have written key works about citizen journalism (like Rosen's "The People Formerly Known as the Audience" and Gilmor's We the Media), but you might also check to see their blogs or Twitter accounts for their most recent thinking.
• Where and how is citizen journalism being taught?
  While researching this topic an ad popped up for a New Media Journalism degree from Full Sail University. I suggest doing a search for syllabi at .edu sites that include terms like "new media journalism" and "citizen journalism" (like this search). Check a very good (though early) syllabus from Howard Rheingold at Stanford. Great readings from a real digital authority.
• What is the business angle?
  Journalism is an industry and a profession, not just a hobby for amateurs. The smart newspaper and media companies are tapping into crowdsourcing by creating platforms and business models that capitalize the user-generated news reporting that's going on. I recommend highly reviewing John Paton's "How the Crowd Saved Our Company" 
• Who is in the trenches?
  Get some social proof from people that are doing citizen journalism. Contact bloggers or those who manage platforms for crowdsourcing content. Check out Deseret Connect, a very innovative networking and crowdsourcing platform. Reach out to some of the contributors or editors that are part of it and interview them about the issues. Someone else in the trenches to consult would be Melissa Wall (bio) who is very current (doing Syrian citizen journalism November 2013) and who authored a recent (2012) book on Citizen Journalism 
• Where are guidelines for citizen journalism being discussed or debated?
  Try this Google search for starters: (forum OR debate) guidelines "citizen journalism" 2013
• What format is best for such guidelines?
  Is an FAQ, an eBook, a wiki, a print book, a video -- or some combination of these most fitting? It depends upon your audience, of course, and perhaps on which variety of citizen journalism you are talking about.