Cell Phone Cameras Make Everyone a Citizen Journalist

May 7, 2006— -- When a devastating tsunami swept Southeast Asia and claimed more than 200,000 lives, video taken from cell phone cameras offered some of the most immediate and captivating images of the disaster as it happened.

It was one of the first times cell phone video recorders played such a large part in a major news story.

Last summer, the first video to surface of the London train bombings was also recorded on a cell phone. In California, cell phones caught a father encouraging his 12-year-old daughter to fight at a California youth club.

Whether it's tornado chasing in Tennessee or capturing a glance of celebrities like Tom Cruise, there are more than 40 million cell phones out there, giving them the opportunity to record whatever's happening around them, whenever they want.

"I think that anyone with a phone that has camera or video capabilities can be sort of their own journalist now," said Jessica Coen, co-editor of the media gossip site, Gawker.com.

Many celebrities who are already on guard against professional paparazzi have to be extra vigilant with amateur photographers lurking around every corner.

"People are aware that there is a demand for photos featuring celebrities perhaps in less flattering situations and people are now offering to sell these photos," Coen said.

A McDonalds customer with a cell phone in Toronto captured a video of Ashley Simpson behaving strangely. It has been the buzz of the Internet and was purchased by major media companies.

But you don't have to be famous to get in trouble with cell phone video footage. A New Jersey teacher was captured screaming at his students after they mocked the National Anthem. Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., was spotted drinking at a college frat party. In a New York City, a local woman helped police catch serial subway flasher with her camera phone.

Cell phones can also be used to spot apparent misbehavior by law enforcement. In Chicago, alleged police brutality was caught on tape and in Central Florida, a teenager is seen being kicked and pepper-sprayed by an off duty sheriff's deputy.

Do you want to become a citizen journalist with a camera cell phone? Well, even if you just want to have fun with your friends and family with the technology, "Good Morning America's" technology contributor Becky Worley recommended these three phones: