Civic Catalyst Newsletter


Civic Catalyst Newsletter
The Pew Center’s quarterly newsletters report on the latest developments in civic journalism from across the country. They engage journalists in conversations about new ways of advancing good journalism and announce the latest workshops and publications on civic journalism.

To view articles by topic select from:

[ Impact ] [ Practicing Civic Journalism ] [ Defining Civic Journalism ] [ Civic Journalists ] [ Elections ] [ Research ] [ Online Civic Journalism ] [ Broadcast Civic Journalism ] [ Pew Updates ] [ Kudos ]

To view Civic Catalyst by date select from:

[ Spring ’02 ] [ Winter ’02 ] [ Fall ’01 ] [ Summer ’01 ] [ Spring ’01 ] [ Winter ’01 ] [ Fall ’00 ] [ Summer ’00 ] [ Spring ’00 ] [ Winter ’00 ] [ Fall ’99 ] [ Summer ’99 ] [ Spring ’99 ] [ Winter ’99 ] [ Fall ’98 ] [ Summer ’98 ] [ Spring ’98 ] [ Winter ’98 ] [ Fall ’97 ] [ Summer ’97 ] [ Spring ’97 ] [ Winter ’97 ] [ Fall ’96 ] [ Summer ’96 ] [ Spring ’96 ] [ Winter ’96 ] [ Fall ’95 ] [ Summer ’95 ] [ Spring ’95 ] [ Winter ’95 ]

The following is the current Civic Catalyst, by topic.

Civic Catalyst Summer 2002

Practicing Civic Journalism:

Savannah’s “Vision 2010” Wins Batten Awards
The 2002 Batten Awards for Excellence in Civic Journalism goes to the Savannah Morning News for a project that targeted failing schools. The Cincinnati Enquirer was named runner-up. The St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Wisconsin State Journal with WISC-TV were honored with Legacy Awards for work over the last decade, and, for the first time, the Web efforts of three other organizations were recognized with Innovator Awards.

Growth Game: Playing with Tough Choices
The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, SC, used an interactive game to help residents get involved in and make choices about growth and sprawl issues. By Pat Ford.

TBON: Crime is Down, Life is Better
In the eight years since news organizations in Charlotte, NC, joined efforts for “Taking Back Our Neighborhoods” (TBON), the quality of life has improved in at least eight of the 10 neighborhoods. By Charlene Price-Patterson.

Batten Semifinalists: More Great Work
Semifinalists for this year’s Batten Awards include the Raleigh News & Observer for “The New Segregation” series, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle for “The Big Deal: Illegal Drugs in the Rochester Region” and the Chronicle-Tribune for “Defining Moments,” a look at community renewal in Marion, IN.

2002 Batten Awards Winners
Hear what civic journalism leaders said about their winning projects.

Change: Catch Up to the Readers
Walker Lundy, editor and executive vice president of The Philadelphia Inquirer, talks about his pioneering experiences with public journalism and the challenges he faces today.

Speaking Truth to the Power of Wall Street
Hodding Carter III, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, challenges journalists to change the culture of the newsroom from that motivated to acquire profit to that motivated to acquire news.

Civic Impact: Citizens Do Notice
Four people who have participated in civic journalism initiatives discussed the impact of those efforts.

Civic Connections: Getting Them Right
Three top editors discussed what civic journalism has taught them.

Civic Newsrooms: Building New Reflexes
Three top civic editors talked about newsroom goals, conversations and civic mapping to deliver useful news.

Civic Innovations: Building New Interactions
Top editors and educators discussed new forms of interactivity that are connecting citizens and altering journalism.

Batten Awards Money Takes Many Paths
News organizations that have won a Batten Award have frequently directed the prize money back to the community, contributing to such efforts as a homeless shelter in Minneapolis to special reading backpacks in Madison. By Pat Ford.

Defining Civic Journalism:

Ten Take-Away Ideas for Civic Coverage
Jan Schaffer, executive director of the Pew Center, suggests some time-tested civic journalism strategies to keep in mind as the Center sunsets at year’s end.

Combating Subversive Inactivity
Civic journalism is an arrow in our quiver in fighting subversive inactivity. By Rebecca Rimel.

Elections:

On the Road: Candidate Mystery Tours
The “We the People/Wisconsin” news partners came up with a new way to cover the gubernatorial campaign – they took the state’s candidates for governor on blindfolded day trips to meet with state citizens. By Tom Still.

Research:

High Impact Logged in 600 Civic Projects
A study of more than 600 journalism projects collected by the Pew Center shows that more than 345 newspapers and magazines have experimented with some form of civic journalism since 1995. More than half of the projects developed deep civic roots. By Lew Friedland and Sandy Nichols.

Broadcast Civic Journalism:

Civic TV: Diversifying Race, Gender
A study of television news finds that civic journalism practices significantly improved the diversity of news sources. By David Kurpius.

Pew Updates:

What’s New in Pew Projects
News organizations involved in nine projects work to make a difference on issues including education, the environment and community relations.