Dan Gillmor, citizen journalist: San Jose Mercury News technology reporter Dan Gillmor has announced that he’ll be leaving the paper next month, “to work on a citizen-journalism project.”

Quote:

I hope to pull together something useful that helps enable — and demonstrates — the emerging grassroots journalism that I wrote about in my recent book. Something powerful is happening, it’s in the early stages and I have a chance to help figure this out.

I’m not ready to discuss the specifics yet, mainly because I have many more ideas than I could possibly try to put into practice at this point — and we’re early in the process of working out the venture’s actual form.

Keep in mind that this project is now in what’s known as the seed-funding stage. It’s not an operating entity yet, though I expect it will be. But we’re some time away from that, with many issues to resolve in the meantime.

A friend who knew about this ahead of time asked the question I’m sure some others will ask: “Are you nuts?” I hope not. Of course, I am leaving one of the best gigs in journalism. The Merc has been incredibly good to me. There are so many talented and good-hearted folks here.

I hate the idea of leaving. But I’d hate not trying this even more.

All I have to say is, “Are you nuts?” No, not really. All I have to say is, you da’ man.

(via: The Media Drop)