Angela Romano and Cratis Hippocrates outline several problems with today's reporting, public journalism, public journalism in practice and Australian initiatives like the Public Journalism Project undertaken by the Queensland University of Technology and University of Wollongong in 1998 ("Putting the public back into journalism", Tapsall and Varley, 2001). But it is their conclusion, which I want to focus on.
It is in their conclusion that Romano and Hipoocrates propose five keys to successful public journalism:
- Establishing the agenda (What issues are important?)
- Dedicating the resources (Training, time and column space)
- Setting the timetable (Program for journalistic activities)
- Obtaining feedback (Eg: letters to the editor and email)
- Analysing the activities and outcomes Measuring the impact on public perceptions)
Now don't get me wrong, I think the idea of public journalism is a good idea and furthermore, this outline seems simple and makes perfect sense. However, what I struggle with is: time and resources. Public journalism may be possible in bigger media centres but not necessarily in rural news rooms where journalists are few, stories are many and time is stretched to capacity. If public journalism was to occur, it would need to be highly organised, not detract from the valuable, daily news service it provides the people already and somehow create a culture change where citizens would become more involved.
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