Civic Catalyst: Fall 1997

House of Cards Tumbles Out of Asbury Park Civic Journalism Project
The Asbury Park Press shows how civic journalism can launch all different kinds of journalism -- including an award-winning investigative series.

Today's Journalism: An Assessment
Max Jennings of the Dayton Daily News reassesses the role of journalism in society and the goal of objectivity at a Pew Center-sponsored workshop in Tiburon, CA in June.

What is News? Broadening the Definition
While explaining the concept of "news" to a reader, the Portland Newspapers' Jeannine Guttman and her staff realize that maybe their definition was too exclusive.

Changing the Personality of Local News Pages
The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk embarks on a bold experiment to bring civic journalism into the paper daily with dedicated pages devoted to education, public life and public safety. Managing Editor Dennis Hartig shares the motivations behind the experiment and reader feedback.

What's Happening in Pew Projects
A look at the latest developments in Pew Center-sponsored projects.

"Liars, Incompetents, Distorters: Who Believes Journalists Any More?"
Excerpts from a panel discussion in New York City sponsored by the Pew Center in cooperation with Atlantic Monthly on September 11.

The Old vs. A New Model of Journalism
Chris Gates of the National Civic League links the shift in community culture and behavior with the advent of civic journalism.

Congratulations
The St. Paul Pioneer Press, KPLU-FM in Tacoma, WA and a coalition of San Francisco news organizations win honors from SPJ, PRNDI and the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Commission, respectively.

The Batten Award is Renewed
The Pew Charitable Trusts has renewed funding for another three years for the annual $25,000 Batten Award for Excellence in Civic Journalism and accompanying symposium.

Clarion Award Winner
The Pew Center, the Harwood Group, and WLK Graphic Design win a 1997 Clarion Award for the publication, "Tapping Civic Life."