1. Citizen Journalism: Activating Students to Participate in Global Issues
Dr. Lesley Farmer
California State University Long Beach

2. Dr. Lesley Farmer California State University Long Beach
Let me introduce myself…
For Librarians
Dr. Lesley Farmer
California State University Long Beach

3. Our World

5. Using technology Safely Responsibly Critically Productively
Pro-actively
Refer back to RUP

6. Civic Engagement
Definition: Individual and collective actions that address issues of public concern
Goal: improve community quality of life
Requires action

7. Citizenship in Global Spaces
How people position themselves in participatory events
Critical dialogue to be aware of bias and social inequities
Build equalitarian knowledge network
Interact collaboratively
Use social justice principles

8. Tech-enhanced Curriculum (UNICEF)
Use information and communication tech as means to end, not end in itself
Use the Internet to collect information and to collaborate
Use the Internet to foster interactive learning environment
Promote cross-site telecommunication

9. Global Digital Citizenship
Kinship in global virtual community
Universal information ethics
Cross-culture clashes: limited senses lead to misperceptions and assumptions
Cultural power dynamics knowledge and global interdependence >> alternative cultural spheres

10. Youth Civic Engagement
Distrust mainstream politics
Get news online or social commentary TV
Media can expose youth to different ideas
Internet use to exchange ideas is linked to civic engagement
2/3s participate in lifestyle politics/causes
Youth civic engagement leads to life success
BUT not skilled in public discourse

11. Civic Education Build civic identity and cultural competence
Learn about other countries and cultures
Share cultural experiences
Collaborate with English learners
Discuss pluralism, social justice, equity
Participate in authentic public discourse

12. Empower Youth Using Technology
Add content on community websites
Create products for the community: photos, artwork, videos, displays, posters, newsletters, web pages
Conduct community history
Create value-added GPS/maps
Train others in responsible tech use
Participate in social initiatives

13. The phone itself, as well as the mobile carrier, should give you some options about privacy settings and child safety controls. You often can turn off things like web access, downloading, or texting. Other phones let you set the number of minutes used, limit internet access, and provide number privacy. Ask your carrier what tools are available on your plan and your phone, and find out what they cost. (There may be extra charges for these features.)
Do you know about social mapping? It’s GPS technology that’s in many cell phones now, and kids can use it to pinpoint where their friends are – or be pinpointed by their friends. Tell your kids to use this feature only with friends they know in person and trust – and not to broadcast their location to the world.
You might want to check: some carriers have GPS services that let parents map their kid’s location. 13

14. Traditional Journalism
Independent check-and-balance system to disseminate information
Professional training, standards, oversight, code of ethics
Public journalism as social responsibility
Mainly one-way communication – BEFORE social media

15. Citizen Journalism
Use-centered news production and participatory journalism
Social networking and collective intelligence
Benefits: better local coverage, varied perspectives, more interactivity
Disadvantages: mediocrity, bias, infotainment

16. Youth and Citizen Journalism
Co-produced interactivity
Leveraging of interests and peer networks to provide insider information
Responsibility to improve community
Social agents
Unfettered social issues discussion
Professional mentoring and monitoring

17. Global Opportunities TakingITGlobal Global Citizen Project
Chain of Change
Youth Journalism International
Earth Echo International
STREAM: Youth Citizen Journalism Initiative

18. Resources
Bennett, W. (Ed.). Civic Life Online: Learning How Digital Media Can Engage Youth. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2008.
Block, D. “Citizenship, Education and Global Spaces.” Language and Intercultural Communication 11, no. 2 (2011):
Bohman, J. “Expanding Dialogue: The Internet, the Public Sphere and Prospects for Transnational Democracy.” The Sociological Review 52 (2004):131–155.
Buckingham, D. (Ed.). Youth, Identity, and Digital Media. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2007.
Branson, M. The Role of Civic Education. Washington, DC: The Center for Civic Education, 1998.
Deuze, M. “Journalism, Citizenship and Digital Culture.” Journalism and citizenship: New agendas in communication (2009):
Holzer, M., Melitski, J., Rho, S, and Schwester, R. (2004). “Restoring Trust in Government: The Potential of Digital Citizen Participation.” Frontiers of Public Administration 6 (2004): 6-23.
Kahne, J., Lee, N. J., and Feezell, J. T. “Digital media literacy education and online civic and political participation.” International Journal of Communication, 6 (2012): 1-24.
Kaufhold, K., Valenzuela, S., and Gil de Zuniga, H. “Citizen Journalism and Democracy: How User-Generated News Use Relates to Political Knowledge and Participation.” JandMC Quarterly 87, no. 3/4 (2010):
Longford, G. “Pedagogies of Digital Citizenship and the Politics of Code.” Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology 9, no. 1 (2005):
Schulz, W., Fraillon, J., Ainley, J., Losito, B., and Kerr, D. International Civic and Citizenship Education Study. Rome, Italy: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, 2008.
Siapera, E., and Veglis, A., eds. The Handbook of Global Online Journalism. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
Smith, A. Civic Engagement in the Digital Age. Washington, DC: Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2013.
UNESCO. Recommendation Concerning Education For International Understanding, Co-Operation and Peace And Education Relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Paris, France: UNESCO, 1974.