Journalism as a discipline of collaborative verification. Presentation to the Future of Journalism conference, Cardiff University, September 2011.

1. Tweets and Truth Journalism as a discipline of collaborative verification Alfred Hermida Future of Journalism 2011 Cardiff University, 8 – 9 September

2. Social awareness streams “They disrupt established concepts of communication, prevailing notions of space and time and the distinction between public and private spheres.” Arceneaux and Schmitz Weiss, 2010 Photo: TasayuTasnaphunLegay http://www.flickr.com/photos/tasayu/

3. Facts, truth, reality Verification as the essence of journalism (Kovach and Rosenstiel, 2001) Photo: MeganMorris http://www.flickr.com/photos/megangoodchild/

4. Networked architectures “Journalists must find tools that will enlist a methodology of verification in a more citizen-oriented way.” Kovach, 2006 Photo: HaagsUitburoTasnaphun http://www.flickr.com/photos/haagsuitburo/

5. Twitter users as network of news sensors Sakakiet al, 2010

6. Emerging practices: “Live updates” pages “The unfolding truth in all its guises,” Herrmann, 2009 Photo: United Nations http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/

7. Discussion “Facts are messy, difficult to determine and they are often dependent on interpretation.” Brennen, 2009 Photo: RudoniProductions http://www.flickr.com/photos/rudoni/

8. Discussion Reporter-curators “will take advantage of novel ‘verification technologies’ that will be increasingly faster and more reliable and advanced.” Bruno, 2010 Photo: Greekadman http://www.flickr.com/photos/papazimouris/

9. Conclusion Journalism as a tentative and iterative process where contested accounts are examined and evaluated in public in real-timeon social awareness streams. Photo: Patrick Hoesly http://www.flickr.com/photos/zooboing/

10. Thank you alfred.hermida@ubc.ca @hermida New book out now All royalties go to Reporters Without Borders