"[3] In an attempt to continue exercising their role as communicators, many traditional media outlets have adopted different convergence strategies.
This is exemplified by how newspapers have leaned towards not only producing print content, but are also utilizing video, graphics, sound clips and social media in their reporting process.
"[5] However, in the 21st Century, the challenge for media outlets is that communities do not longer solely depend on news entities to tell their stories.
Instead, community members have a wide range of online elements, such as blogs, websites and social media, to disseminate their stories.
One of the most popular interactive journalism tools are blogs, which allow grassroot news to be developed by eyewitnesses or those with expertise or interest in a particular subject area.
Where such apps like Countable or Openreporter Bulletin allow individuals to work in real time with reporters and or other civic activists.
J-Lab's Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism honor spotlight news and information that is more than multimedia journalism and rewards novel efforts to involve citizens actively in public issues, to invite their participation and create entry points that stir their imagination and engagement.