OhmyNews: The South Korean News Platform Driven by Citizen Reporters
Since its inception in early 2000, OhmyNews has stood as a unique pillar in the South Korean media landscape. Operating under the bold motto "Every Citizen is a Reporter," the platform pioneered an open-source style of journalism, allowing readers to act as contributors rather than just passive consumers of information.
Founded by Oh Yeon-ho on 22 February 2000, the website was designed to provide an alternative to traditional media. Today, it remains a significant online presence, with a content model where a small professional staff of 55 people produces roughly 20% of the articles, while the vast majority are penned by freelance contributors.
Key Facts
- Founder: Oh Yeon-ho
- Launched: 22 February 2000
- Core Philosophy: "Every Citizen is a Reporter"
- Political Stance: Liberal and progressive
- Content Model: Primarily driven by freelance citizen reporters
Political Identity and Editorial Stance
OhmyNews is widely recognized for its liberal and progressive political positioning. This distinguishes it from other South Korean outlets like Hankyoreh or Kyunghyang, which are often viewed as more moderate liberals. The platform frequently addresses social issues that mainstream media may overlook or underreport.
The site maintains a stance that is anti-imperialist, anti-racist, and anti-xenophobic. While it is critical of the "hegemonic nationalism" displayed by the Chinese and Japanese governments, it explicitly opposes anti-Chinese or anti-Japanese sentiments that manifest as racism rather than principled anti-imperialism. Regarding international relations, OhmyNews is not anti-American, though it frequently critiques U.S. foreign policy. For instance, in 2022, the outlet published criticisms regarding U.S. efforts to improve Japan-South Korea relations, suggesting such cooperation could come at a sacrifice to South Korean interests.
A History of Influence and Expansion
The platform has played a notable role in South Korean political history. It was highly influential during the 2002 presidential election, and following his victory, President Roh Moo-hyun granted his first interview to the outlet.
In 2006, the organization attempted to expand its reach through a US$11 million investment from the Japanese firm Softbank to launch OhmyNews Japan. However, the citizen-participation model faced significant criticism in the Japanese market. By July 2008, the staff of the Japanese operation was dismissed, and operations ceased by the end of August that year.
The Role of Curators
To maintain editorial standards within a decentralized system, OhmyNews utilizes curators. These individuals are entrusted with significant responsibility and are selected through recommendations from existing curators. This tiered system of experience and contribution is designed to ensure a consistent level of quality and credibility for the readers.
Financial Structure and Challenges
Maintaining financial independence as an alternative media outlet has presented ongoing challenges for OhmyNews. According to founder Oh Yeon-ho, the majority of revenue—between 70% and 80%—has historically been derived from corporate advertising and sponsorships, while direct contributions from readers have accounted for only about 5%.
The outlet has had complex relationships with government advertising. While Oh Yeon-ho stated the site did not receive funds from the Lee Myung-bak government, a 2009 National Assembly report indicated the site received approximately 120 million won in government advertising between February 2008 and July 2009. Additionally, reports showed the site received roughly 870 million won in government advertising from 2003 to 2007. Major corporate partners, such as Samsung, have also historically provided a significant portion of advertising and cooperation revenue.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Owner | Oh Yeon-ho |
| Revenue (Reported) | US$70,000 |
| Primary Language | Korean |
| Status | Online |
| Business Model | Commercial |
OhmyNews International
The OhmyNews International branch was originally an English-language platform featuring citizen reporter articles from across the globe. However, in September 2010, the format shifted from active citizen journalism to serving as a forum about citizen journalism. The original site now functions as an archive and no longer accepts new article submissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main philosophy of OhmyNews?
The core philosophy is "Every Citizen is a Reporter," which encourages readers to contribute, edit, and publish articles in an open-source style.
How does OhmyNews differ from mainstream Korean media?
It is considered more consistently liberal and progressive, often focusing on social significance and issues that mainstream media might underreport.
Who writes the majority of the content on the site?
While there is a professional staff of 55 people, most articles are written by freelance contributors and citizen reporters.
What happened to OhmyNews Japan?
Following an investment from Softbank in 2006, the Japanese branch attempted a citizen-participatory model but faced criticism and eventually ceased operations in August 2008.
Is OhmyNews a non-profit organization?
The site is listed as commercial, though it has faced financial struggles, leading the founder to appeal for voluntary subscriptions to combat annual losses.