Uncensored and unbridled
IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Internet continues to have a lasting impact on journalism today. One of the key ways is through the rebirth of citizen journalism, and Jason Asselin, a Yooper Tube contributor, is making quite a name for himself.
Asselin is an unemployed high school dropout living in Iron Mountain. But with his trusty video camera and his computer, he's been able to break news across the community.
"I'm not a reporter; I don't work for nobody. I put things on there the way I see it, and some people see it the way I do, some people don't. News media reporters are censored, yourself, other reporters in the Daily News, they can't just print whatever they want. I can," says Asselin.
Jason Asselin is part of the re-emergence of citizen journalism. Shooting videos for Yooper Tube and CNN I-Report, he's able to get videos online and on TV from the comfort of his own home.
He spends his free time learning and reading about his community.
The self-taught video shooter, editor, and reporter, Asselin has seen his hard work pay off.
"Two years ago I learned how to turn on a computer, today I have 21 reports on CNN," Asselin boasts.
Asselin has faced criticism for a number of his Yooper Tube videos and his style of "in your face" reporting. But he says his videos are meant to provoke thought.
"A lot of people tell me what I'm doing is going after the town and making the town look bad, but in reality, I'm trying to do the opposite. I'm trying to point out the things that we can improve on," Asselin explains.
To see Asselin's or any other videos, go to Yooper Tube.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC