FAQ iWitness

iWitness is a user-generated video project run by 3 News, where we ask users to become citizen journalists and submit video and photos of news events in their community.

We live in an age of redefined reporting lines where it's not just professional journalists who report on and produce stories. News has become instant and news organisations need support on the ground to document events as they happen. Citizen journalism allows unique and varied accounts of news to blend into mainstream media and empowers the general public to take witness of important events.

Once your video is submitted it is moderated by our news staff who will decide if it's newsworthy for the site. Footage that is selected will be uploaded to the 3news.co.nz/iwitness section.

The best clips will be displayed high on the page, with the "Top Video of the Day" appearing on the homepage.

Yes, of course. All videos uploaded to the site will carry the user's name. The underlying concept behind citizen journalism is respecting individual accounts of news events.

That should be the goal. User-generated footage is regularly shown on both national and international news – but only if it's very good.

During the Christchurch and Japanese quakes, footage shown on 3 News was often shot by members of the public who filmed the event as it unfolded.

Unfortunately no, few news organisations pay for user-generated footage

Unlimited. As long as it's not 100 sunsets and sunrises we are interested in the news going on in your community.

Signing up as an iWitness reporter gives you far more perks than just a 'guest'.