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How to become a Citizen Journalist

#Step 1 - Read articles on how to write a blog. If you are completely new to blogging, start by doing a search for the article titled ¨101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger,¨ written by Kim Roach.

#Step 2 - Create your own blog. Visit websites that allow you to sign up for free blogs such as Blogger and Live Journal.

#Step 3 - Make sure to fill out profile information and upload a picture of yourself first when creating a blog account. It allows your readers to see the real you.

#Step 4 - Get to know other bloggers by posting comments and reading their content. Remember that networking is very important.

#Step 5 - Learn to write great titles for your articles. Perform a search for the article titled ¨10 Sure-Fire Headline Formulas That Work,¨ by Brian Clark. Read the article and save it to your browser bookmark.

#Step 6 - Start posting current events or news opinions daily on your blog.

#Step 7 - Remember to make the news your own. Citizen reporters give news a more realistic human approach. Give authors credit for their writings by listing a proper source link to the original article.

#Step 8 - Add pictures to your content. Readers are attracted to pictures first and tend to read titles second.

#Step 9 - Subscribe to RSS and blog directories to attract readers.

#Step 10 - Syndicate your articles to Shoutwire, Digg, Newsvine, EzineArticles, GoArticles, iSnare, American Chronicle, Technorati, Stumbleupon, Reddit and other syndicating websites.

#Step 11 - Be realistic. Give your blog time to get popular. Wait at least six months before expecting to see real results.

#Step 12 - Submit your own articles to be published by citizen journalism websites. This is the best way to get started, gain experience and become known in the alternative media forum.