With greater ease of access to the Internet and more affordable digital cameras, it seems anyone can be a journalist these days.

Especially in emergency situations, amateur news hounds can contribute much to news reporting, providing that much sought-after firsthand material.

For example, the first picture of the London subway blast two years ago was provided by a mobile-phone user.

In February, the Henan TV station in Central China launched a new program - DV Observer - which focuses on the day-to-day lives of local people using digital video (DV) clips shot. More than 1,000 DV lovers across the province have provided material for the program, Cui Jianzhong, its producer, said.

However, some people say the program might violate people's legal rights, as images of drunks in restaurants, people quarreling on the street and families struck by tragedy have been widely broadcast.

"The terms 'citizen journalist?and 'DV observer?are the new forces of social supervision, reflecting the initiation of citizen society. In a lawful society, it is very dangerous to define all new things as 'illegal? We should offer enough concern and protection to them and provide guidance for their healthy development.?

Shi Jingtao

A freelancer writer

"There is no law in China that says journalists enjoy exclusive rights to news reporting. Everybody has the right to record news and social phenomena. Look at the online DV news and blogs, everybody plays the role of journalist. It's not professional, but we get the facts. I trust it.?

Chen Jieren

A netizen

"Armed with my 8,000-yuan video camera, I like to shoot emergency news that happens on the street every day. It is part of my retired life. Sometimes, I provided my clips to local TV stations and they broadcast it. They pay me and call me an 'observer? The money is not important, I have a pension, but I just think it is fun.?

Wang Aiguo

A DV lover in Henan

(China Daily 08/06/2007 page2)