*Pete Clifton lecture

Pete Clifton is Head of BBC News Interactive and the latest speaker in JOMEC’s online lecture programme.

A common concern among us high-fee-paying trainees is there will not be a place for the trained journalist in the new world of user-generated content. But why? For the last three weeks in a row a succession of highly credible new media maestros has come to tell us that it is ok, our role is indispensable – as long as we adapt.

Today Pete Clifton described an evolving online world which is very much based on some of the key principles of local journalism:

• Sources - Mr Clifton said: “User-generated content is not a new phenomenon.” He likened it to his experiences as a journalist on local papers in Northampton where he would rely on tip-offs from members of the public. “What’s really changed over the last few years or so is the ability to send stuff over their mobile phones.”



• Accountability – Veteran hacks (Richard Burton included) often extol the virtues of the accountability of the local press, where if a member of the public is aggrieved with a story they can easily find and confront the responsible journalist. Mr Clifton said Nick Robinson’s blog enabled him to: “nip in the bud criticism in a sharp way before it gets out-of-hand.” He added: “Our ambition is to be the most open and accountable news organsiation in the world.”



• Local knowledge – After problems with accuracy in the 2005 General Election constituency profiles, Mr Clifton said the BBC may experiment with user generated content as a basis of the next profiles they do.

Well, if Mr Clifton is interested, I have a cracking ward profile of Rumney in east Cardiff if he wants it – according to David English, it’s “not bad.”