Three genius ideas for improving newspaper Web sites

Newspapers readers have more power to report the news than ever before. Basically anyone with a laptop computer can photograph/film, write and produce their own story. Newspaper Web sites can utilize "citizen journalist" to improve newspaper content. There are three ways newspapers can accomplish this.
One way is to create a discussion board on the Web site. The newspaper could take a hot news topic and focus that topic around a question. Readers would be invited to take part in a discussion; giving their criticism, opinions, or advice. This would create more traffic because it gives people an outlet to let their voices be heard. Even those that do not participate would benefit from the discussion. Some of the participants in the discussion board would be more knowledgeable than the newspaper staff and could give a different perspective on the hot news of the day.
Another way to increase traffic is to display readers' images of news worthy events happening around the local area or the world. The newspaper can not be everywhere at once and has a limited number of photographers. But newspaper readers are everywhere, and most have cell phone cameras. They can be the eyes of newspaper when news breaks and there is no reporter in sight. Readers should be encouraged to email their pictures of news events (such as effects of natural disasters, or even a crime in progress) so that other readers of the Web site may benefit. This last idea is already being done by the Ventura County Star. It is called Your Hub and it is a weekly supplement that is featured in the paper and on its Web site. Basically it is a collection of stories written and photographed by local Ventura County residents, which are edited and published by the newspaper. Many of the articles are small little events or feature pieces that fall through the cracks. People who feel their is an important unreported story can go out and do the reporting themselves. The newspaper editors have final say in what goes on the Web site and weekly supplement, but it is a unique way of getting readers involved.