Civic Catalyst Newsletter
Spring 1997

Sustaining Civic Journalism Efforts

The Pew Partnership for Civic Change is awarding grants to three communities -- Binghamton, NY, Peoria, IL, and Portland, ME -- to help citizens energized by civic journalism efforts move on to the next step and take action on complex issues.

The grants are being awarded as part of The Community Change Project, created to help such citizens put their increased awareness of issues to work.

"These three communities are tackling some of the toughest issues facing the nation -- jobs, leadership, and education," said Carole J. Hamner, assistant director of the Pew Partnership, based in Charlottesville, VA. "Their efforts to sustain citizen engagement in community problem-solving can provide a model for all cities seeking to tap the talents of a diverse citizenry."

Binghamton, Peoria and Portland all participated in civic journalism projects supported by the Pew Center for Civic Journalism. In each community, citizens wanted to continue working together after the journalism projects ended, but sought some outside help with facilitation and direction.

"The Community Change Project seeks to help citizens sustain their level of engagement after the media spotlight -- as it must -- moves on to other issues," said Jan Schaffer, the Pew Center's deputy director.

Each community will receive one-year grants of $20,000 to help them build support in other parts of the community.

Binghamton, NY:

Citizens are trying to make some of their ideas happen in the next phase of "Facing our Future," a year-long civic journalism project of the Press & Sun-Bulletin, WBNG-TV, WSKG Public Broadcasting and Binghamton University. The news organizations sought to encourage grassroots action to help solve economic problems caused by massive defense downsizing in the region.

From January 1996 through January 1997, more than 3,000 residents deliberated through newspapers surveys, a live televised town hall meeting, action teams, a youth task force, focus groups, an on-line project for schools, call-ins, television forums and public hearings. The newspaper printed more than 120 articles, WBNG-TV did live broadcasts, the public television station did six live one-hour specials and hosted an on-line project, and the university facilitated seven focus groups.

Citizens participated in 10 action teams that met for five months, then last fall released more than 100 recommendations. Now, the citizen groups are working toward putting those ideas into action.

"Even though we have successfully moved from deliberation to action, we remain at a critical stage in the development of civic structure," said Martha Steffens, managing editor of the newspaper. "Several of the teams are continuing to meet on a sporadic basis, but still need facilitation and direction."

Peoria, IL:

In "The Leadership Challenge," the Peoria Journal Star, WMBD-TV and radio, WTVP-TV and WCBU-FM turned the spotlight on the region's declining pool of leaders. The partners collaborated on six surveys, four roundtables and a town meeting that altogether brought about 2,000 individuals into contact with the project. Late last year participants in the town meeting produced a list of about 150 ideas that could enhance the quantity and quality of local leadership. And they signed more than 100 pledge cards indicating their willingness to work on the ideas.

In the first phase "the community identified solutions and a cadre of people willing to work on them," said Star managing editor Jack Brimeyer. "But both -- the people and the ideas -- need a shepherd."

For the next phase, the "solutions" phase, the community hopes to work on recruiting and developing leaders. They will be aided by several promising steps, including the creation of the Center for Not-for-Profit Excellence at Illinois Central College to help non-profits develop pools of funds and leadership and the Center of Student Leadership and Public Service at Bradley University to provide leadership opportunities for students.

Portland, ME:

The "Maine Citizens' Campaign" began as a civic journalism election project in which the Portland Press Herald, Maine Public Broadcasting and WGME-TV (CBS) convened citizens in the town of Sanford to define and discuss the issues important to them. They met every six weeks as a large group and once in between in smaller study circles. But once the elections were over, the citizens asked to continue working together. Discussing problems had inspired them to want to look at solutions.

They have continued to meet, their discussions facilitated by the Maine Roundtable Center, and so far they have identified two topics -- local government and education and youth -- to focus on.

The citizens will continue to use the study circle model to educate themselves on the issues and develop strategies for initiating civic change. "The ultimate goal is for the citizens of Sanford to be able to carry on independently as of May 1998," said the newspaper's editor, Jeannine Guttman.

"Through the gradual weaning of, first, the focus of the media, and later the guidance of the Roundtable Center, the citizens of Sanford will have the experience and the knowledge to continue the change process on their own."