That was the first I heard of citizen journalism as a concept and a phenomenon existing simultaneously within and outside of journalism. I’ve since heard much buzz about citizen journalism at the Cronkite School, Twitter, and the mainstream media. I’ve watched with much chagrin (it’s not just me, right?) as CNN airs homemade “iReport” YouTube videos of random people’s opinions on complex issues (that many of them don’t seem to fully comprehend) like the economy, bailouts, and war. As a friend of mine once said, Everyman Joe calling in to NPR to discuss the complicated Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac takeover is a lot like me, a liberal arts student, calling in to discuss nuclear physics.

Despite my frustration with some aspects of the growing trend of citizen journalism and cable news’ use of it to engage and attract viewers for their Nielsen ratings, the Iran election protests definitively cement the importance and value of citizen journalism and social media in 21st century news reporting.

The brave and honorable protesters in Iran have taken this phenomenon of citizen journalism and showed what it is capable of.

In case you haven’t followed this, the best place to read how it has unfolded over the past week is Huffington Post’s “Iran Updates (w/ video): Live-Blogging The Uprising,” diligently updated by Nico Pitney with all the developments, almost all creditable to brave Iranian citizen journalists risking their lives by sending photos and news mostly via social networking sites like my beloved Twitter.

One story that has taken on a life of its own is that of Neda Aghan-Soltan, a 27-year-old woman whose death by gunfire was caught on camera by a citizen journalist. The footage quickly made its way around the Internet and has become an international rallying cry for Iranian reform. Another terrifying citizen video, first aired last night, captures a late night Tehran home invasion. After watching that, watch CNN’s expert analysis of what’s going on in the video.

So, what DOES all of this mean for citizen journalism?

Most importantly, I think, that citizen journalism is a large part of the future of protests and uprisings against oppressive regimes worldwide, particularly in more developed nations where citizens have common access to technology like cell phones and the Internet.

The #CNNFail brouhaha tells us that social media has effectively and permanently altered the “gatekeeping” role of the mainstream media. The “gatekeeping” role of the media is its job of deciding what is newsworthy and what is not, how much and how deeply to cover the stories that are. Twitter has brought on the age of the “citizen gatekeeper,” where citizens can say, HEY this is news and you’re not covering it, or not covering it enough.

At the same time, the media’s forced reliance on Twitter for much news of what is going on in Iran has given journalists a new sort of “inspector/bouncer” role in which they must use the resources they have to corroborate Tweets and decide what is reliable enough to report.

I hope the coverage of Iran also means a slight change in direction for citizen journalism, away from antecdotal opinions and towards a more purposeful use. Most obviously, iReports of injustice or from places and news events where the mainstream media has yet to arrive or cannot report from (i.e., Iran). I think why I hated iReports is because CNN basically used it as a way to save time going and getting man-on-the-street interviews, a hallmark staple of reporting that I’m not ready to see be passed off to some random guy with a HandiCam.

Another question I have is the effect of citizen journalism ON the Iranian reaction to the election. Do you think the ability to communicate to the West and the outside world in general contributed to the size and duration of the rioting? There definitely would have been rioting and bloodshed regardless of technology used to spread it around the world; but how has worldwide awareness (“If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it fall, did it fall?”) and the confidence in Iranians that they CAN make a difference and they CAN shout for justice and call to arms at an international level? I think both of these–awareness and confidence– have added significant fuel to the fervent inferno of flames the uprising has evolved into.

More Links Related to the Iran Election & Citizen Journalism:

Iran Election Crisis: 10 Incredible YouTube Videos

US Government Asks Twitter To Stay Up For #IranElection Crisis

List of Imprisoned Iranian Journalists and Politicians

Iranian Citizen Journalism Round-Up at UK Guardian

Twitter May Just Save The World From World War III

Obama Intervention Keeps Twitter Open In Iran

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This announcement comes after Specter split with the party on the controversial Senate stimulus vote, endangering his chances at winning the 2010 GOP primary against Pat Toomey, whom he beat in a tight race six years ago. A recent poll had Toomey leading by 21 points among PA Republican primary voters.

Specter’s 2010 race in PA has been one to watch for months now, and in March, NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin said Specter was probably the most endangered Republican for 2010.

This comes as a surprise but not a complete shock, as Specter has always been a “moderate” Republican. Apparently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) had been talking to Specter about this for approximately FIVE YEARS now.

Republican on Capitol Hill are reportedly “shell-shocked.”

Specter said the Republican party has moved so far to the right during and since the Bush administration that it has abandoned the center and left HIM, as opposed to him leaving it.

One CNN analyst said this is a sign that the Republican Party has moved so far to the right, they have made themselves uncompetitive in parts of the country.

“Democrats are jumping for joy, higher than you ever thought they could here on Capitol Hill,” said congressional correspondent Dana Bash.

President Obama called Specter upon hearing the news and told him he has his “full support” and that Democrats are “thrilled to have you,” according to an anonymous source who was there.

Specter actually began his political career as a Democrat, but he switched to the GOP to run for mayor of Philadelphia in 1967 against incumbent Democrat James Tate, according to NPR. He then ran and lost in subsequent races for DA, senator and governor (in GOP primaries) before landing his Senate seat in 1980.

Despite dismal polling numbers, Specter still had the support (not anymore, obviously) of NRSC chairman, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).

Here are the best blogs, responses and analysis I’ve read so far (I’ll update as more politicians and politicos release statements and post blogs throughout the day/night)

Jazz Shaw @ The Moderate Voice contrast Specter with Santorum. This is one of my favorite posts I’ve read today.

Glenn Thrush @ Politico dug up a 2001 transcript of a C-SPAN interview w/ Specter in which he explains why he became a Republican

RNC Chairman Michael Steele says Specter left because he knew he would lose the GOP primary, although he will struggle in the Democratic Primary also, Steele said.

FOX News posted a detailed biography of Arlen Specter.

Holly Bailey @ Newsweek has some Republican responses

Dan Balz @ Washington Post says this is  wake-up call for the GOP

Carl Hulse of The Caucus @ The New York Times has done some thorough reporting and offers some new insight and context.

Jacob Heilbrunn @ Huffington Post thinks Specter’s switch is Obama’s biggest 100-days accomplishment.

Eric Kleefeld @ Talking Points Memo explains why he switched and why he had to do it.

Ken Rudin, Political Junkie @ NPR said the news was shocking, but made sense

Chris Cillizza, The Fix @ Washington Post gives a good summary of the impact of Specter’s switch