UGC-Some way to go

Online, self published current affairs journalism and news publications built on a preponderance of reader contributions are starting to offer alternatives to established news providers. At the same time mainstream sites have begun to host spaces for user generated content, although not as a direct or linear response to these so-called ‘grassroots’ or ‘citizen journalism’ activities

That is one of the conclusions of Neil Thurman, of the City University, London in an article entitled Forums for citizen journalists? Adoption of user generated content initiatives by online news media

Neil outlines some of the factors that are motivations behind the media using or not using UCG.

Cost is certainly one,moderation of sites is expensive-

These costs have not yet been fully off-set by the revenues generated.

Some sites are not finding the take up particually brilliant and

Questions remain about the extent to which users are interested both in participating themselves, and viewing other readers’ contributions.

Not suprisingly though

Increasing circulation is, of course, not the only reason for eliciting reader contributions. Editors understood that secondary benefits existed as user generated content initiatives could provide a source of stories and content for stories.

Also

Journalists and editors had some concerns about user contributions. They felt that there was a need to edit material to: avoid duplication, keep the standards of spelling and grammar high, select material that was newsworthy with broad appeal, and ensure balance and decency.

and this along with legal considerations is obviously a factor in editorial policy