YouTube has announced the launch of a portal specifically designed for citizen journalism.

The channel is aimed at both accidental and deliberately captured video news. Called the ‘Reporters’ Centre’, the resource is targeted at aspiring reporters or citizen journalists. Offering tips from well-known reporters, YouTube is also encouraging users with news reporting experience to add their own tips.

The site launch included some big names offering their journalistic insight: investigative journalism taught by Bob Woodward; Arianna Huffington on why citizens are vital to news gathering; how to prepare for an interview by Katie Couric; and, Nicholas Kristof’s how-to on dodging bullets while reporting from a crisis zone.

In addition, practical and ethical tips are offered, such as how to fact check, avoiding libel and adherence to journalistic principles.

YouTube is expected to integrate the service with Google News.

“Though its the phenomenon of citizen reporting that YouTube is probably best known for, we also have hundreds of news partners who upload thousands of videos straight to YouTube every day,” wrote Olivia Ma, YouTube news specialist.

“We believe the power of this new media landscape lies in the collaborative possibilities of amateurs and professionals working together.”