Editor's Focus

Calling All Citizens

Within publishing circles, a concept that has gained attention in recent years is something called "citizen journalism." This community-minded concept involves allowing a publication’s readers to contribute stories and ideas beyond the one page or so labeled as the "Letters to the Editor" section.

At daily newspapers in particular, where strong-willed editors as well as unions or guilds have traditionally had a great deal of influence, this concept is fairly experimental.

The growth of the Internet as a source of daily news has perhaps pushed the "citizen journalist" concept in front of daily newspaper publishers, as their readers now have an even greater variety of ways to procure local news and gauge local opinion.

While publishing contributions from readers may be a new frontier in some news rooms, happily, at most trade magazines (and particularly at Recycling Today), this is far from a radical idea.

However, reading that daily newspapers are grasping with the ground rules in this endeavor serves as a valuable reminder to trade publications that they need to encourage their "citizen journalists" to stay involved.

The editors of Recycling Today like to keep in mind one very important thing: Our readers are the real experts when it comes to recycling. When we write articles or news items, we are ultimately depending on information from scrap and recycling processors, traders, shippers and suppliers.

Another great way to take advantage of this knowledge is to "cut out the middleman." (I would use the gender-neutral term "middleperson," but that sounds like someone who is visiting from Middle Earth.)

How? By publishing essays and articles written by recyclers, consumers of secondary commodities and suppliers of equipment and services used by recyclers.

Recycling Today magazine, our Web site (www.RecyclingToday.com), weekly e-newsletter and conferences all provide formats for readers with an opinion or an idea to reach out to the wider recycling community.

Throughout its history, Recycling Today has been privileged to publish articles and provide podium time for many of its readers. This is a practice that is as vital now as it ever has been in the past.

New commodities generated and handled, software technology, global shipping patterns, processing techniques—all of these things are changing faster than ever.

If you have a story to tell, an idea to pass along or an opinion to espouse, don’t be shy: Let Recycling Today and its readers know.

I’d be honored to hear from you, via e-mail at btaylor@gie.net or via phone at (800) 456-0707. It is my hope that citizen journalism remains alive and well here at Recycling Today.