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.
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.
News organizations involved in nine projects work to make a difference on issues including education, the environment and community relations.
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.
A study of television news finds that civic journalism practices significantly improved the diversity of news sources. By David Kurpius.
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.
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.
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.