Civic Catalyst: Summer 1999

St. Paul, San Francisco and Portland News Organizations Win 1999 Batten Award
Two newspapers and, KRON, a television station were presented with the 1999 Batten Award May 3 in Minneapolis, for compelling journalism that had great community impact.

The Batten Winners: Journalism that Took Risks
Pew Center Director Jan Schaffer describes how the 1999 Batten Award winners were willing to take risks.

An Unconventional New Tool: Dialogue Connects Readers with Suffering Children
The Orange County Register's Laura Saari let children do the talking as they gave readers insight on their impoverished world as "motel children."

Shining a Light in Dark Corners
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch invites readers to help "Imagine St. Louis" in regular conversations in the Sunday paper on topics ranging from education to plans for a new bridge.

What's Happening in Pew Projects
An update on the progress of the Pew Center's 1999 projects.

Pew Center is Renewed
The Pew Center has been granted funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts to continue its activities through 2002.

Why "the Informed Citizen" is Too Much to Ask - and Not Enough
Michael Schudson, author of "The Good Citizen, A History of American Civic Life," tracks what it means to have informed citizens at the end of the 20th century and the implications for journalists.

A Citizen's Eye View: Civic Journalism, Civic Engagement
Philadelphia Daily News Editor Zack Stalberg advocates journalism with power, passion, influence - and humor.

Mapping Seminars Peel Back Layers of Civic Life
The first series of Civic Mapping Seminars, co-sponsored by the Pew Center and The Harwood Institute, challenged the participating journalists to find the third places - and the catalysts and connectors - in a community.

Community Journalism Summit, San Francisco
Some highlights from a workshop May 21-23 co-sponsored by the Pew Center, the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and the San Francisco Examiner.

Pew/IRE Workshop, Baltimore
Excerpts from speakers at an April 9-11 workshop co-sponsored by the Pew Center and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

On-Line Ventures
New Hampshire Public Radio and The Gazette in Colorado Springs experiment with new ways to increase citizen interactivity and engagement through their web sites.