Civic Catalyst: Summer 2000

Civic Journalism Network
Update on the formation of the national Civic Journalism Network spearheaded by Chris Peck, editor of The Spokesman-Review.

Studying Civic Journalism
Sharon Hartin Iorio of Wichita State describes the 2000 AEJMC Civic Journalism Interest Group's winning research papers by Kathryn Campbell of Southern Oregon University and Renita Coleman of University of Missouri.

Stormy Weather Ahead
How do you bring a major story down to the neighborhood level? The Virginian-Pilot found a way to bring home its hurricane coverage with an innovative flood map. By Pat Ford.

Did the Media Do the Right Thing? Has the primary coverage been useful to voters?
Batten Symposium panel highlights featuring: The Nieman Foundation's Bill Kovach, Mary Jo Meisner of the Community Newspaper Co., WBUR-FM's Sam Fleming, Boston Globe's Yvonne Abraham and moderator Lance Morrow.

Meeting Citizens' Needs: What's Next? Can the news media do more to inform citizen choices?
Batten Symposium panel highlights featuring: the Boston Globe's David Shribman, Joe Sciacca of The Boston Herald, Jeannine Guttman of the Portland Press Herald, Candy Altman of Boston's Channel 5, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Chris Satullo and moderator Robert Zelnick.

The Presidency and the Media
Batten Luncheon speaker, Boston University presidential historian Robert Dallek, looks at how the relationship between presidents and the media has evolved.

Campaign 2000: Pressure is on the Traditional Press -- Will We Reform Coverage? Or Will We Continue Our Old Ways?
Batten Award Keynoter Pam Johnson of the Arizona Republic looks at the 2000 election process and finds encouraging signs for citizens.

Extra: Getting a Handle on Civic Journalism
The Spokesman-Review adds a new tabloid insert to the paper built on the principles of civic journalism with most of the content provided by members of the community. By Pat Ford.

What's Happening in Pew Projects
An update on the progress of the Pew Center's 2000 projects.

Lexington Builds Common Ground on Growth
The debate over growth in Kentucky's "bluegrass country" had come down to a bumper sticker war: "Growth is Good" vs. "Growth Destroys Bluegrass Forever." With the two sides so starkly drawn, the Lexington Herald-Leader had to dig to find what the community could agree on. By Pat Ford.

This is Not Your Father's Newsmobile
Pew Center Director Jan Schaffer discusses how civic journalism differs from traditional journalism, including a checklist to help identify civic journalism - and practice it.

Savannah, Philadelphia, New Hampshire Share Batten Award for News, Editorial, Online Initiatives
The Savannah Morning News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and New Hampshire Public Radio were presented with the 2000 Batten Award April 26 at Boston University, for exemplary work in journalism with community impact. Includes comments from the winners.