Civic Journalism

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Civic Journalism

• The Role of Newspapers in Building Citizenship

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Press Challenges

• Profit pressures
• Internet
• Bad journalistic habits
• Government regulation

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New Questions

• Who is a journalist?
• What is journalism?

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New Trends

• Interactive journalism
• Participatory journalism
• Citizen journalism

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Civic Journalism

• Restore good habits
• Build reader connections
• Get better stories
• Build better citizens

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Journalism Today

• Blurred lines
• Reporting Commentary
• Entertainment News
• Difficulty getting it right
• Serving elites vs. citizens
• Out of touch with public
• Commercial gt sensational

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Bad Habits

• Act rushed
• Hover with notebook
• Ask loaded questions
• Expect fast answers
• Listen for quick quote
• Show up only for problems
• Corrupt behavior

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Civic JournalismAspirations

• Retain watch dog
• Abandon attack dog
• Add guide dog

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Civic Election Coverage

• Avoid lt horse race polls
• Focus gt voter issues
• Frame gt hiring decisions

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Charlotte Observer
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Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
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Philadelphia Inquirer Mayors Race
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Pew Center forCivic Journalism

• Funded 120 projects
• Tracked 650 projects
• Trained 4,000 journalists
• Awarded 30 Batten Awards
• Interactive journalism

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Read more

• www.pewcenter.org
• www.j-lab.org

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Computer kiosks gt Community surveys
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Clickable Maps
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Tax Calculators
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NHPR Budget Builder
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DefinitionCivic Journalism

• News that citizens need to
• Learn about issues, events
• Make civic decisions
• Participate in a democracy

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Civic Toolbox

• New definitions of news
• New sources of news
• New interactions with readers
• Mental checklist

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What is News?

• Content audits 1977 - 1997
• Government News lt 38
• Entertainment News gt 380
• Scandal News gt 300

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Civic Techniques

• DONT
• Keep score
• Focus on conflict
• DO
• Cover solutions
• Interview all stakeholders

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Savannahs Vision 2010
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Civic Attributes

• Entry points for citizen input - task force
• Reported solutions
• Build civic capacity
• Action plan
• Non-profit foundation

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Civic Response

• 1,100 reader calls
• 200,000 donations
• 50 tons food
• 8,000 toys
• Thousands volunteer hours

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News as Conflict

• Internal vs. External
• Conflict in Values
• Not Conflict of People

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Civic Mapping

• List pre-conceived ideas
• Diversify Sources
• Catalysts
• Connectors
• Watch for stereotypes
• Hold conversations not interviews
• Define terms
• Find master narratives

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Learn more

• www.pewcenter.org
• A Journalistss Toolbox
• (4 videos)
• Tapping Civic Life booklet

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Taking Back Our Neighborhoods
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Civic Listening

• Data Crunching
• Community Poll
• Citizen Advisors
• Town Halls

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Charlottes Civic Tools

• TV and radio partners
• Neighborhood advisors
• Town hall meetings
• Success stories
• Needs lists for each area

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Charlotte Observers Needs List
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What we know

• Triggers civic behavior
• Increases knowledge
• Builds credibility
• Citizens get it
• Builds civic capacity
• Builds reporting capacity

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Master Narratives

• Covering the Noise
• Vs.
• Covering the Silences

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The New City
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Aging Matters
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Deadliest Drug
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Mental Checklist

• How do you position people?
• v As color or furniture that you move around?
• v Or as a citizen capable of action?

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Mental Checklist

• Do you only raise awareness?
• v Can a story invite input, ideas?
• v Can it help readers do something with the
  information?

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Mental Checklist

• Have you talked to all stakeholders?
• v Do you report more than two sides of the
  story?
• v Do the pros and cons get you the real story?

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Mental Checklist

• Do you report internal and external conflict?
• v Do you help people see possible choices and
  consequences of those choices?
• v Do you examine conflicting values?

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Mental Checklist

• Do you advance solutions?
• v Report what has worked elsewhere?
• v Invite community brainstorming?

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Mental Checklist

• Do you invite participation?
• v How can people respond?
• v Are there entry points for input?

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2001 Pew Poll
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Want more interactivity
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Build Connections
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Less Noise

• More Meaningful Interaction

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• The Institute
• for Interactive Journalism

www.j-lab.org