While reading a chapter for my journalism class one night, I came across an interesting topic called “citizen journalism.” This up-and-coming branch of journalism focuses on news reporting and media contributions done by ordinary citizens who are not professionally employed in a journalistic field.

My initial reaction to this information was positive, as it’s cool that everyday people get the chance to interact with the media and make themselves known.

This positive opinion lasted for only a second, as my imagination traveled and I thought about a very close relative of citizen journalism: reality television.

Like ordinary people reporting the news, ordinary people now monopolize television reality shows, bringing them into the world of the forever in-your-face famous. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the Age of the Regular People, where anyone from horrible singers (William Hung) to MySpace phenomena (Tila Tequila) can become celebrities.

What ever happened to the intangibility of being a celebrity and the value of pure, rare talent? The rub is this: The trend of instant access for anyone into the club of the super-fabulous has become ridiculous and unnecessary. The average person’s 15 minutes of fame is not something that is supposed to be permanent, and I blame TV and the Internet for making this happen. It’s safe to surmise that popular culture is being held hostage by the “cult of personality” (courtesy of Tequila’s official Web site).

It all started back in 1992 with the premiere of one innocent show on MTV — “The Real World.” Little did the producers know that this seemingly harmless reality show, which follows the lives of seven strangers living together, would be the first of an entire smorgasbord of shows taking place in “real” life.

It’s not just the reality shows that take away the uniqueness of being a celebrity. There are other venues out there, such as creating your own Web site, along with MySpace, YouTube and your local online blog. This is not to say that everyone who has made a name for themselves online is a no-talent wannabe — I like Colbie Caillat, another MySpace prodigy, and will blog about how much I love “Bubbly” any day.

When it comes to reality shows, the talent that emerges requires a more cynical approach.

I could take “America’s Next Top Model,” and I could even take “American Idol,” but when the scope and influence of reality shows get to the point where one show would lead to a spin-off reality show, and that show lead to yet another spin-off, you know something’s wrong.

I’m not just ranting … I have evidence: On Flavor Flav’s “Flavor of Love,” New York (the nickname of one contestant) got a spin-off. Then Chance got a spin-off from New York’s “I Love New York.” Then, if you’re still unsatisfied, after that show you can watch Daisy on “Daisy of Love,” who got her start on “Rock of Love” with Bret Michaels (Season 2, not 1).

Its great that these people get the opportunity to find love in the public eye, but the shows’ importance does not go beyond pure entertainment, and should not be used as examples for those who are really looking for love.

Everyone living on this planet has something to offer the world, whether it’s the creation of a new type of cheese or the discovery of an unknown dimension. Real talent is something that should be cherished and harnessed toward the greater good, and not exploited by a contract and TV cameras for the next six months.