The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s David Ho writtes about CNN’s new iReport.com…

Unlike CNN’s current effort, in which editors screen material before putting a selection on TV or CNN.com, the new site will have a wide-open environment akin to YouTube and social networking sites.

“We’re letting it live and breathe on its own so everybody can see all the great stuff people are sending in,” said Susan Grant, executive vice president of CNN News Services.

The new site builds on the phenomenon of citizen journalism, which is booming thanks to the Internet and technology such as cellphone cameras and wireless hand-held devices.

“Some of these folks are very passionate about covering news or particular topics or wanting to interact with us or each other,” Grant said.

People submit more than 10,000 iReport items to CNN each month, but only about 10 percent are approved for use online or on the air, spokeswoman Jennifer Martin said, largely because CNN has limited resources to review the material.

Following Wednesday’s launch and about a month of testing to fix problems and get comments, a formal rollout of the Web site is planned for March. The site’s initial address is beta.ireport.com.