CCJIG Panels Trace 20 Years of Civic - Citizen Journalism History, Suggest Future Directions

The CIVIC & CITIZEN JOURNALISM INTEREST GROUP of AEJMC put on three panels on AUGUST 5, 2008, 2 P.M. - 6 P.M. at Columbia College Chicago Journalism Department's "Convergence Newsroom" The sessions, titled "The Past, Present & Future of Civic/Citizen Journalism:
Three Panels Weigh In on the Issues" featured Jack Rosenberry, St. John Fisher College, Jay Rosen, New York University, Ed Lambeth, University of Missouri; Mark Deuze, Indiana University, Burton St. John, Old Dominion University, Barbara Iverson, Columbia College Chicago, Suzanne McBride, Columbia College Chicago; Adrian Holovaty, www.everyblock.com, Steve Rhodes beachwoodreporter.com, Leonard Witt, Kennesaw State; Jeff Jarvis, CUNY and Mindy McAdams, University of Florida.

Here are some slides from the event. The panels were recorded and I'll be posting a link where you can watch the panels for yourself in a couple of days. Some highlights from my perspective, were Ed Lambeth's call for journalists to connect with citizens to revitalize America's educational system as happened in the Sputnik-era and Jay Rosen, framing that issue by contrasting Lippman and Dewey, noting that journalism can present stories in ways that encourage participation, rather than being about insiders trying to clue outsiders in about what is going on.

The panel on blogging for change highlighted how the experience of blogging is a learning experience that adds intellectual value to the blogger, and can be a powerful teaching tool.

Our Chicago-centric panel of hyperlocal news publishers presented three different by complementary ways that new technologies and ways of storytelling are connecting communities of PFKA (people formerly known as the audience).