Winter 1997
Does Civic Journalism Move the Needle?ASNE SURVEYS KEY PRACTITIONERS
What hasn’t worked? One-shot events that are little more than show business, the journalists surveyed said. And they said they struggled with how either to maintain the momentum of a popular civic journalism initiative or hand it off to community groups once a traditional news cycle has expired. The committee’s survey, conducted by Chris Peck, editor of The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash., posed four questions to 56 newspapers, radio stations and academics who have had some record of civic journalism: Which of your civic journalism projects seemed to work? Which didn’t work or didn’t work as well as you hoped? How did your measure your success? Where is civic journalism headed? Here are the key findings.
Civic journalism techniques have proven effective in framing news coverage and examining defined issues in a serious way, according to a recent survey of civic journalists by the ASNE Ethics and Values Committee. Civic journalism has also helped to enhance newspaper reputations and prompted reporters and editors to think in new and creative ways.
What works:
Framing the news before the reporting begins.
“Civic journalism is here to stay. It is a proven way to rebuild damaged connections between newspapers, their readers and the community where both reside. These techniques re-open avenues for discussion and debate that have been clogged. The future of the movement depends upon innovative, against-the-grain editors who are committed to their local communities and are willing to buck the conventional wisdom that has constipated our profession.”
Rebecca Nappi,
Interactive Editor, The Spokesman-Review,
Spokane, WA.
Civic journalism techniques — such as newspaper-sponsored community roundtables, forums and backyard discussions — often provide an effective way to frame issues and develop stories prior to the launch of traditional reporting.
Linking civic journalism to specific topics and traditional reporting.
The best results from civic journalism seem to be found in efforts that focus on defined issues not large, mushy concepts, and work that is then supported by strong enterprise and investigative reporting.
Being serious.
Serious community issues are what people care about and what newspapers can best address with civic journalism. Good issues get good results and good participation from the community. Mediocre issues that are poorly framed get mediocre, ho-hum responses.
What hasn’t worked:
At one level, it all works.
| “Civic journalism is maintaining its momentum and gaining more support. Even the papers that allegedly don’t support it are doing similar projects. I think it’s being done in silence, though; sometimes you don’t want to bring it up with other editors because of the ‘harrumping’ and disapproval that follows.”
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Handing-off to community groups.
Readers like civic journalism. Too often, the public is left hungry for more while a newspaper struggles to find a way to hand off a project to others or fails to maintain momentum on a civic journalism effort once a traditional news cycle has expired.
One-shot events.
Doing a civic journalism kind of thing just once has limited long-term value. It’s decent show business but often doesn’t lead to much lasting change or even many good stories.
Measuring results:
| “I think civic journalism is the future. I don’t care what it is called. If the words civic or public journalism put people off, find other words to call it. If newspapers ignore this tool that helps them connect with their community, newspapers will perish. There is room for active community involvement by a newspaper. Knowing when and where to draw the line – for news people – is critical. Smart people do this. Lazy people pretend it can’t be done.”
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Quick results, such as clear indications of circulation growth, are difficult to chart. Many experienced civic journalists say such measurements shouldn’t be attempted so soon. The history of civic journalism is short and the frustrations and limitations civic journalism tries to address have built up over years, if not decades. Measurements at this point may kill an emerging root system that in time could bloom into better community decision making and strengthened ties between newspapers and the communities they serve.
Newspaper reputations often are enhanced.
Even in the short run, many papers feel their civic journalism efforts have helped restore the paper’s community reputation and credibility.
Reporters and editors begin to think in new ways.
Civic journalism gets reporters and editors to think in new, creative ways. Newsroom discussions that spring up around civic journalism often lead reporters and editors to consider different and better ways to ask questions, search for sources, and write engaging stories.
Where is civic journalism headed?
| “The novelty phase is winding down. The controversy is getting tiresome. The project orientation of much civic journalism is finding its limitations. The most interesting, and probably most promising area of development involves the changing attitudes in our ongoing practice of journalism.”
Frank Denton, Editor, |
Into the daily paper.
Civic journalism likely will be incorporated into daily operations at more and more newspapers. Many big projects still will utilize some civic journalism techniques. However, a day-to-day shift in the newsroom mindset toward a more citizen-based, problem-solving attitude and away from detached, adversarial journalism will be the next big step.
Possibly to be co-opted by marketing.
Civic journalism could be adopted as a marketing gimmick and actually lead to more cynicism among readers. Newspapers that talk about rebuilding community life and connecting with readers who have lost faith but simply pursue business as usual likely will see negative responses to their civic journalism efforts.
Not a savior, but a tool for innovation.
Civic journalism won’t solve circulation problems, advertising problems or credibility problems. It can lead to more imaginative news reports and help newspapers better understand the communities they serve. Creativity and innovation may be the most important and lasting results of civic journalism.