10 tips for citizen participation: Get involved!

1. Recruit people with a mission: look for the types of people to work with who know what they want and are willing to go after it.

2. Use information that is uniquely valuable: look for the information that you as a citizen participator can contribute that has the "unique" factor which makes it more valuable.

3. Remember who your audience is: remember the people who you're targeting with this story and make it pertain to their interests.

4. Be aware of the tools available to you: think about all the ways you can get your story out to the public, whether it's through a blog, social media tools, etc.

5. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions: just because you're not a traditional journalist doesn't mean you can provide important information, which sometimes requires digging deep to get the information you're looking for.

6. Conduct yourself in a professional manner: always be up front about being a reporter and be courteous.

7. Be thorough!: reporting starts with fact checking, double-check everything! Gather all the information you can about a story and always look for both sides.

8. Be objective and fair: writing a story is not about your own opinions or views about a story. Be sure to present both sides, especially if the story is issue-based or controversial. Remember, it's what the people in your story have to say.

9. Use social media to "spread the gospel" about your story: you don't have to rely on traditional marketing tools. Promote your story through Facebook and Twitter, just get the word out, and your audience will follow.

10. Find a community of storytellers to share ideas and suggestions with: get plugged in, whether it's through a group on Facebook or some other social networking site, and encourage each other and promote each other's work.