1. The Role of Newspapers in Building Citizenship
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 Journalism Aspirations
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
Phila Inquirer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31. Taking
Back Our
Neighborhoods

32. Data Crunching Community Poll Citizen Advisors Town Halls
Civic Listening
Data Crunching
Community Poll
Citizen Advisors
Town Halls

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

34. Charlotte
Observer’s
“Needs” List

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

36. Covering the Noise Vs. Covering the Silences
Master Narratives
Covering the Noise
Vs.
Covering the Silences

37. The New City

38. Aging Matters

39. Deadliest
Drug

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

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

42. 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?

43. 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?

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

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

46. 2001 Pew Poll

47. Want more interactivity

48. Build Connections

49. More Meaningful Interaction
Less Noise
More Meaningful Interaction

50. The Institute for Interactive Journalism