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Redesign for expanding citizen journalism website

A citizen journalism website which claims to be the biggest of its type in Europe has been given a redesign.

Blottr, which runs sites in the UK, French and Germany website, clamis its citizen journalism news service is now nearing “broad mainstream recognition.”

The site, which enables anyone to report and consume breaking news stories, has attracted around two million monthly users since it launched in August 2010 and has 5,000 contributors.

People will now have the option of writing bite size news or full articles on the site which will have also feature more integration with social media, as well as a section called ‘how does Blottr work?’

Site founder Adam Baker, said: “The latest version of Blottr underlines the commitment we are making to both our audience and our community of citizen journalists, which has grown to become the largest in Europe.

“With this in mind, you will see an increased focus concentrated on big topics, taking a deeper dive into issues that affect us all, be it in the areas we live or world issues impacting our lives.

“The power of citizens from across the world collaborating together to expose news that would likely otherwise fall below the mainstream radar is hugely exciting, yet also necessary in the increasingly transparent world we live in.”

Other enhancements to the service include a greater emphasis on user engagement and gratification, and a viral videos section.

There will also be more columnists, using the sites’ most popular citizen journalists.

Added Adam: “Blottr has provided the platform for a wealth of fantastic writers, with strong personal opinions on many different topics, to reach a broad audience compelled to read their thoughts.

“We will be rewarding our most influential contributors with their own columns, which we believe delivers the most interesting, unbiased view of current affairs in the UK today, written by the people, for the people.”

The founders say that topics such as Occupy, racism and the Middle East have brought together hundreds of new contributors and tens of thousands of readers from in and outside of the UK.