Civic Journalism: Six Case Studies
A Joint Report by The Pew Center for Civic Journalism and The Poynter Institute for Media Studies
Edited by Jan Schaffer and Edward D. Miller
Reported by Staci D. Kramer
INTRODUCTION
Our nation’s civic life is in disrepair and the implications for journalism are ominous: Citizens who don’t participate in the life of their community have little need for news. Civic journalism seeks to address some of this detachment and improve journalism in a way that may help stimulate civic discourse.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
In the award-winning “Taking Back our Neighborhoods/Carolina Crime Solutions” initiative, the newspaper partnered with television and radio in an ambitious project that went far beyond traditional crime coverage and into the neighborhoods most affected by violence. The community response has been overwhelming.
MADISON, WIS.
Whether using citizen caucuses or citizen juries, inviting citizens to interrogate gubernatorial candidates or listening to “closing arguments” of state Supreme Court candidates, “We the People, Wisconsin” has bypassed formulaic journalism and given citizens creative ways to interact with politicians and with each other.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
In one of the country’s most complex exercises in civic journalism, “The Public Agenda” project has elected to focus not on an election or a single issue, but rather has sought to launch ongoing community dialogues on all elections and issues that affect the community.
BOSTON, MASS.
“The People’s Voice” was an experiment in giving citizens an active role in political campaigns. Like most experiments, it had hits, misses and lessons. But the idea survived to be tried again in the 1996 presidential campaign.
SAN FRANCISCO,CALIF.
The “Voice of the Voter” had several high-water marks. It enabled several thousand readers, listeners and viewers to participate in the election. It used the power of the press to force political candidates to listen — and respond — to what the people had to say. And it gave birth to a newspaper-led voter registration drive.
SEATTLE,WASH.
In the “Front Porch Forum,” the media partners built a veritable front porch where residents could talk to political candidates and to each other and where a poll picked up unexpected anxieties about the future of the family and affordable housing.
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