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Civic Journalism: Building Better Citizens Through Interactive News

Explore the role of newspapers in civic journalism, challenges faced by the press, new trends in journalism, and aspirations for civic journalism. Learn about civic election coverage, tools for civic journalism, and the importance of covering solutions. Engage in interactive journalism and foster citizen participation for a thriving democracy.

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Civic Journalism: Building Better Citizens Through Interactive News

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  1. Civic Journalism The Role of Newspapers in Building Citizenship

  2. Press Challenges • Profit pressures • Internet • Bad journalistic habits • Government regulation

  3. New Questions: • Who is a journalist? • What is journalism?

  4. New Trends: • Interactive journalism • Participatory journalism • Citizen journalism

  5. Civic Journalism • Restore good habits • Build reader connections • Get better stories • Build better citizens

  6. Journalism Today • Blurred lines • Reporting & Commentary • Entertainment & News • Difficulty “getting it right” • Serving elites vs. citizens • Out of touch with public • Commercial > sensational

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

  8. Civic JournalismAspirations • Retain watch dog • Abandon attack dog • Add guide dog

  9. Civic Election Coverage • Avoid < horse race polls • Focus > voter issues • Frame > hiring decisions

  10. Charlotte Observer

  11. Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

  12. Philadelphia Inquirer Mayor’s Race

  13. Pew Center forCivic Journalism • Funded 120 projects • Tracked 650 projects • Trained 4,000 journalists • Awarded 30 Batten Awards • Interactive journalism

  14. Read more: www.pewcenter.org www.j-lab.org

  15. Computer kiosks > Community surveys

  16. Clickable Maps

  17. Tax Calculators

  18. NHPR Budget Builder

  19. Definition:Civic Journalism News that citizens need to: • Learn about issues, events • Make civic decisions • Participate in a democracy

  20. Civic Toolbox • New definitions of “news” • New sources of news • New interactions with readers • Mental checklist

  21. What is “News?” Content audits: 1977 - 1997: • Government News < 38% • Entertainment News > 380% • Scandal News > 300 %

  22. Civic Techniques • DON’T: • Keep score • Focus on conflict • DO: • Cover solutions • Interview all stakeholders

  23. Savannah’s Vision 2010

  24. Civic Attributes: • Entry points for citizen input - task force • Reported solutions • Build civic capacity • Action plan • Non-profit foundation

  25. Civic Response: • 1,100 reader calls • $200,000 donations • 50 tons food • 8,000 toys • Thousands volunteer hours

  26. “News” as Conflict Internal vs. External • Conflict in Values • Not Conflict of People

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

  28. Learn more: www.pewcenter.org “A Journalists’s Toolbox” (4 videos) “Tapping Civic Life” booklet

  29. Taking Back Our Neighborhoods

  30. Civic Listening • Data Crunching • Community Poll • Citizen Advisors • Town Halls

  31. Charlotte’s Civic Tools • TV and radio partners • Neighborhood advisors • Town hall meetings • Success stories • “Needs” lists for each area

  32. Charlotte Observer’s “Needs” List

  33. What we know: • Triggers civic behavior • Increases knowledge • Builds credibility • Citizens “get” it • Builds civic capacity • Builds reporting capacity

  34. MasterNarratives Covering the Noise Vs. Covering the Silences

  35. The New City

  36. Aging Matters

  37. Deadliest Drug

  38. Mental Checklist • How do you position people? √ As color or furniture that you move around? √ Or as a citizen capable of action?

  39. Mental Checklist Do you only raise awareness? √ Can a story invite input, ideas? √ Can it help readers do something with the information?

  40. Mental Checklist Have you talked to all stakeholders? √ Do you report more than two sides of the story? √ Do the pros and cons get you the real story?

  41. Mental Checklist Do you report internal and external conflict? √ Do you help people see possible choices and consequences of those choices? √ Do you examine conflicting values?

  42. Mental Checklist Do you advance solutions? √ Report what has worked elsewhere? √ Invite community brainstorming?

  43. Mental Checklist Do you invite participation? √ How can people respond? √ Are there “entry points” for input?

  44. 2001 Pew Poll

  45. Want more interactivity

  46. Build Connections

  47. Less Noise More Meaningful Interaction

  48. The Institute for Interactive Journalism www.j-lab.org

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