Virtually anyone with a cellphone or a computer has the power to publish information these days. In some places, people, acting like citizen journalists are changing the world. For instance, a shortage of information in a hurricane hitting New Jersey led to the creation of the Jersey Shore Hurricane News, a service that started as a Facebook page. And citizen journalists were credited for alerting the world to the Arab Spring. In this course, students are immersed in basic writing skills for online outlets, learn how to create and promote online platforms, and learn the difference between just being anyone with access to the Internet and being a citizen journalist. Together we embark on a deep discussion and critical review of a variety of citizen journalist sites, stories and examples along with extensive discussion of ethics, fairness, and the business aspects of journalism. Students complete regular writing assignments, some technical work online and writing assignments based on the critical assessment of the work of others.