Decisions you make during the reporting process will significantly affect your ability to sustain public interest long term. Some key points: Start the campaign early, and make your audience part of it. Take advantage of new technologies, social networks, RSS and Twitter feeds while you are in the field. Blog dispatches from the field serve as teasers to your larger project. It’s a great way to start building your audience’s interest - and it may provoke your readers to post comments with Read more [...]
Archive | Learning Modules
These modules are designed to provide both professional and citizen journalists with step-by-step instruction on skills to help you launch or improve a web site based on user-generated content. The modules have been created by KCNN’s network of professionals.
Collaborate Early and Often
Keep on top of issues through NGOs and non-profits who work in your area of interest. They provide insights into stories that deserve more attention; they also give you a network of people who are engaged on the issues and will help you amplify your work. It’s important to keep a healthy professional distance, but don’t miss an opportunity to learn and under-reported issues or to engage your audience at an early stage. Several of our projects developed through direct conversations with NGOs and Read more [...]
Story Selection
To have impact you need to start with a compelling story! So make sure you’re plowing truly new ground, and that you choose something that wil grab the audience’s attention. Focus on issues that get beyond the 24-hour news cycle. For the Pulitzer Center this has meant selecting stories that provide insight into systemic-level cirses around the globe. The right choice will make amplifying your story - beyond the initial publication and broadcast - a much easier process. Our project Water Wars in Read more [...]
Outside-the-Box Community Engagement
Tickling Reader Engagement
“Try poking your community with a sharp stick and challenging it to interact.”
— David Poulson
Engaging readers is why your online news community exists. You can’t use the wisdom of the crowds if the crowd isn’t talking. Without fast and substantive engagement, you might as well publish a newspaper. So when you build it and they don’t come, what do you do, short of waiting?
Twitter Tips: The Must-Have Tool for Citizen Journalists
When a major earthquake struck Sichuan province, China, on May 12, 2008, the very first reports came from cell-phone-powered eyewitnesses in the affected region. Before the ground even completely stopped shaking, people were firing off text messages announcing the quake. Some of those messages went to a popular social media service that integrates easily with both cell phones and computers: Twitter.
The Citizen Journalist’s Guide to Open Government
This extensive, multimedia e-learning module helps new media makers understand how to obtain public records and get into public meetings. The guide features a unique, interactive map that tells citizens how they can locate open-government information on each of the 50 state Web sites.
Produced by Geanne Rosenberg, founding chair of Baruch College’s new undergraduate Department of Journalism and the Writing Professions.
Making the Most of Metrics
How to Measure your Web Traffic and Understand Who’s Visiting your Site
Whether you’re running a small hyperlocal community website or a large regional citizen media site, you can use free or inexpensive tools to measure how many people are visiting your site and where they like to go most.
Interviewing: A Practical Guide for Citizen Journalists
Interviewing: A practical guide for citizen journalists will show you tips and strategies for becoming a better interviewer.
Open Government Blog
Do you have a question or comment relating to access to government records, meetings or courts? Please post it after clicking on “Comments.” We’re interested in hearing from you and will do our best to provide educational answers and direct you to resources. Reply Posted on March 12, 2009 Question 1 February 28, 2009 I am so glad I discovered you. The following is a letter I wrote to Georgia’s Attorney General regarding my intention to retrieve police incident reports in my community Read more [...]
Access to Resources
Citizen Media Law Project Government Information Access Guide Go to our State Evaluations Map Citizen Media Law Project Access to State Courts Citizen Media Law Project Access to Federal Courts Citizen Media Law Project on Access to Federal Advisory Meetings KCNN’s Top 10 Rules for Limiting Legal Risk National Freedom of Information Coalition State and Federal Resources The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Open Government Guide Sunlight Foundation Student Read more [...]