Alan Mutter, in Reflections of a Newsosaur, questions the viability of grassroots journalism. He suggests that it isn't sustainable economically so won't develop professionally in a form that reliably serves society.
"Although a number of do-it-yourself ventures have embraced modern technology to attempt to fill the void created by the retrenchment of the mainstream media, there is scant evidence to date that any have succeeded to the point that they will support the sustained efforts of professional journalists," he writes.
Neither he nor anyone really seriously knocks the efforts of community-based news sites to provide journalism. What he questions, credibly, is the financial underpinning of such efforts and their inability to channel substantial resources at a journalistic project or challenge.
"While it is true that the hard work of one or a handful of highly motivated individuals can create something worth reading for as long as their enthusiasm holds out, the time and hard work involved in serious reporting seems to suggest even the most impressive grassroots projects will be condemned to relatively short life spans."
