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References

"Community Journalism." Journalism.org- The State of the News Media 2010. Project for Excellence in Journalism. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2010/specialreports_community_journalism.php>.

Franklin, Bob. "The Future of Newspapers." Journalism Studies 9.5 (2008): 630-41. EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=105&sid=4842e02a-20aa-4213-b5e7-33c804aec1c0@sessionmgr114&vid=1&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=a9h&AN=34084979>.

Lowery, Wilson, Amanda Brozana, and Jenn B. Mackay. "Toward a Measure of Community Journalism." Mass Communication and Society 11.3 (2008): 275-99. EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=105&sid=40b75b95-e05f-4407-a083-ba864a76c5eb@sessionmgr115&vid=1&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=a9h&AN=33245283>.

Examples of Community Journalism:

Portland, ME- A publication devoted solely to state education reform was created by Maine Sunday Telegram/Portland Press Herald Editor, Lou Ureneck and Maine Council of Churches, Sarah Campbell. Their primary objective was to create study circles to dispel information to the public on the different perspectives on education:

1. To prepare one for a job 2. To teach lifelong learning 3. To develop good citizens 4. To teach the basics

This newspaper, as with many community journalism publications, has sole control over editorial content. The content itself is very important and relevant to Maine communities and revolves around “core value” choices, as determined by the community. The community journalist reporters were required to give readers a background on each perspective and to “write an expository rather than conventional he-said/she-said style.”

The publication ran more than 100 inches of factual reporting on education in Maine, as well as op-ed pieces promoting one of the four perspectives, and summary reports on the opposing viewpoint. The newspaper was received well, and, as a result, roughly 700 community members took part in the reader roundtables.

Virginia- The Virginian Pilot is a second example of a community newspaper. This publication sought to “show how the community works or could work” and to “portray democracy in the fullest sense of the word, whether in a council chamber or a cul-de-sac.”

Known as the Public Life Team, they meet with panels of citizens regularly to “tap their thoughts and dreams for the regions’ future.” Additionally, they have changed the perception of criminal sentencing from a polarized issue to one that rehabilitation advocates were in favor of. Finally, they opened a line of communication between various community members for the Hall Place neighborhood. “The Pilot got black and white residents to talk freely about the plan.” Without the assistance of the Pilot, the community would not have come to the conclusion that it “ought to be what was good for the city as a whole.”

This publication in particular has paved way for other community journalists, mainly due to its experimental nature and eagerness to give reporters the opportunity to brainstorm ideas together. Overall, the Pilot wants to improve the tone of public discourse in the Virginian community.

Emergence of Mobile News

According to the State of the News Media: An Annual Report on American Journalism, nearly half of all American adults (47%) report that they get at least some local news and information on their cell phone or tablet computer. They are interested in obtaining news that is practical and in real time and fall under the demographic of higher socioeconomic status, younger, newer residents, reside in non-rural areas, and parent minor children.

Mobile news is important because participants “feel they can have an impact on their communities, more likely to use a variety of media platforms, feel more plugged into the media environment than they did a few years ago, and are more likely to use social media.”

Citizens can not only read news from their local community, with tablets and smart phones, they can also share and post links to stories, comment, or contribute themselves.

Survey:

The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism and Internet & American Life Project partnered with the Knight Foundation to conduct a national survey from January 12-25, 2011. They polled 2,251 adults over the age of 18 in both English and Spanish to “explore the role that cell phones and tablet computers play in people’s patterns of consuming and contributing to community information.

Results:

84% of adult Americans own a cell phone and 47% of that population access local news and information on mobile devices, as it serves an immediate need.

However, those polled stated that topics like crime, community events, schools and education, and politics and cultural events are a fraction of topics sought after. In other words, citizens have not reached the point where they use mobile devices as a primary source to acquire community journalism-related subjects.