CNN iReport marks fifth anniversary of global participatory citizen journalism

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Global iReport Birthday Celebrations During the Month of August in Locations Around the World

Five years after inviting CNN's global audience to contribute photos and video of the news of the day,

CNN iReport

, the network's participatory news community, has grown into a globally recognized platform. To date iReport has received a submission from every country on the planet with an average of 2.4 million unique users each month through June 2011 (Source: ComScore.) From the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Japan to the Virginia Tech shooting and fallout from Iran's presidential election, CNN iReporters have provided some of the first images of these important stories to a global audience; in addition to their unique points of view from the ground.

To commemorate the anniversary, CNN iReport is organizing the ultimate birthday party viahttp://meetup.com/CNNiReport, with iReporters from more than 50 cities all over the globe attending meetups, such as Atlanta, New York, London and Hong Kong. Other Asia cities include Seoul, New Delhi, Manila, and Maha Nuwara in Sri Lanka.

"We created iReport to engage viewers who have a desire to share and participate in the telling of stories that touch their lives. CNN iReporters have exceeded our expectations in both the quality and quantity of their submissions over the last five years," said Jim Walton, President of CNN Worldwide. "Not one day goes by that CNN iReporters don't display an impassioned point of view for the community they helped to create along with CNN."

"The iReport five year anniversary is a perfect time to celebrate iReport and all it stands for: an amazing community, storytelling with heart, and a breakthrough model for participatory journalism. And naturally we'll do that with a party heard 'round the world," said Lila King, Participation Director for CNN Digital. "I am tremendously proud of what we've accomplished -- and what's still to come -- together with the iReport community and all of CNN."

Throughout the month of August, CNN will kick off its observation of iReport's birthday by featuring theCNN iReport ‘Top Five'. The ‘Top Five' lists are being written by employees that touch and work with iReport and they will take a look back at some of the platform's significant moments and submissions. CNN viewers can expect to see the ‘Top Five' on CNN.com and on CNN's networks and platforms.

Later this year, CNN will unveil a newly imagined site and platform for iReport that builds on many of the successes of the last five years, and sets it up for five --or fifty -- more.

About CNN International

CNN is the world's leading global 24-hour news network and one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. The CNN brand is available to two billion people via 18 CNN branded TV, internet and mobile services produced by CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System Inc and a Time Warner company. CNN International is the international directorate of CNN Worldwide and distributes news via 14 services in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in more than 275 million households and hotel rooms in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, including over 37 million across the Asia Pacific region and online atwww.cnn.com/international

Related links:

•"Five Years of iReport"

by Lila King, Participation Director for CNN Digital:http://on.cnn.com/oSoUXW

•Twitter:

@cnnireport

•Facebook:

facebook.com/ireport

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