Bringing communities into the news process is a powerful way to spread journalistic values, train residents on reporting processes and foster user generated content that is more useful for newsrooms. Newsrooms are well positioned to become participatory journalism laboratories, helping more people navigate, verify and create powerful stories online and via social media.

(via Why newsrooms should train their communities in verification, news literacy, and eyewitness media. — First Draft News — Medium)

Good overview of how you as a citizen can be part of participatory culture. You have to be creating, not just consuming.