Improving Accuracy in Citizen Journalism

Citizen journalists must be accurate in their writing. Developing these skills takes a little work. With practice, one's writing ability can drastically improve from novice to distinguished caliber. For citizen journalists, precise writing gives them the cutting edge over other writers.

Here are some writing techniques to improve accuracy. Incorporate these methods the next time you write.

1. Fact-check with reliable sources. If you need an encyclopedia and can't find the specific information you need on the internet then go to the library. Take the time to craft a refined article with factual information and you'll develop credibility with the audience.

2. The simplest technique is to perform spell check on your document. If you use Microsoft Word, click the F7 key. That key is automatically assigned to run a spelling and grammar check on the opened document. It's so easy to do that there is no excuse not to do it. Some professors I have had for website design classes have said, "If text in a website is misspelled, I automatically navigate away. If the creator of the website doesn't know how to use a spell check program, I don't trust anything they've written."

3. Make sure you understand your topic. There is no shame in looking up words in the dictionary in which the meaning isn't clear. If the topic is common slang or jargon which isn't listed in the dictionary, then execute a simple search online for how other people used the phrase in their texts. Find out everything you can about the topic.

4. Remove bias from your article. Your opinions and thoughts should be on your personal blog, not in your articles. Present the facts to the reader and write with a neutral tone. This allows the audience to make their own decisions. Write fairly on all sides of a topic, giving equal attention to pros and cons.

5. Have a knowledgeable person edit and proofread your work. There are many knowledgeable people who are eligible to review your writings. Maybe your spouse is a school teacher. Ask them to take some time to look over your text. Maybe your friend is a writer like you. See if you can get some tips about your topic or free proofreading from them.

Integrate these simple tips to improve accuracy in your citizen journalism, and you will sharpen your writing skills and techniques. Readers easily toss aside bad writing with just a mouse click. One of the main reasons web users navigate away from a site is because of inaccuracies. Don't let a simple spelling error cause you to lose an audience of millions.