A Proposal: Actual Citizen Journalism

Journalistes Sans Frontieres? (4.00 / 2)

In 1976, an investigative reporter for the Arizona Republic was assassinated by organized crime elements while investigating their operations. IIRC, reporters from around the country worked to complete his story. Without the same trigger, this seems to have a similar impulse.

But the notion of topic-specific bloggers - e.g., education - adds another facet, as does the nature of blogging itself...

---

by: elwood @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 11:15:33 AM UTC

Daily Kos, in its most recent incarnation, has added (0.00 / 0)

a group organizing feature.  At present, the groups are mainly editorial subsets designated by topics and haven't actually produced much.  But, the impulse to associate in groups seems to be strong in many people and worth accommodating.  DFA tried to start with groups (state and local), but somehow missed the boat because the software never was adequate to enable co-ordination and then, even though Dean didn't sell his "lists" to fundraisers, fund raising became the dominant interest of DFA.  Spreading information, which is what bloggers do, seems to be perceived as an unwanted competition by politicians of all stripes.  They want to be the spreaders, not the spread upon.  The Congress has formalized that, btw, by refusing to accept electronic communications except from "constituents," even as the congresscritters have no reluctance soliciting money from their "lists" -- anyone, anywhere, any time.

"Don't call us; we'll call you" is really insulting coming from a congresscritter.  I realize the flood of emails can be a nuisance.  But, since they're usually in opposition to what the critters are doing or proposing to do or threatening to do, the volume alone should provide a clue that more service is being required.

At this point, keeping tabs on legislators' votes is probably worth more than trying to influence particular votes.  If they don't know where the public interest lies, they probably shouldn't be in office.

---

by: hannah @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 12:05:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Crowdsourcing journalism (4.00 / 1)

I like your idea, Jim. I would love to see this work somehow, but it's the "how" I am concerned about (including "how" journalists eat and pay rent), and to an even greater extent "why".

You are spot on with your observations about objective journalism; as some here have pointed out, that was a trend that waxed and waned over a period of time in the 20th century. I think the ghosts of Pulitzer and Hearst are howling with laughter that we ever thought it was possible.

So, the "why" question I have is what will motivate these citizen journalists in the "cloud" to do the kinds of investigation and fact checking that make for credibility? Is credibility even relevant any longer, now that so many "facts" are created in partisan echo chambers by affinity groups? My point is that nothing is inherently wrong with reporting (or blogging) from a point of view, but it is different from being paid to investigate, collect facts from multiple perspectives, and present the information in a manner in which mass audiences feel free to draw their own conclusions. The motivations for each are not the same.

Perhaps the real issue lies in what constitutes a mass audience in the current milieu; now that practically every news format is a narrowcast to some degree, that "mass" concept may also have gone the way of objective reporting.

Just my rambling 2 centavos on a Wednesday morning.

They. Don't. Care.
We do.
Rinse, repeat.

---

by: GreyMike @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 12:52:18 PM UTC

My experience blogging (4.00 / 1)

Jim and MIke
I blogged in NH for three years straight at NH INSIDER. Prior to that I was the communications director for Democracy for NH. ( before I left DFNH in protest--but that's another story)

So in total I was writing regularly for 5 years. My "niche" was investigating how the right wing works in NH. I always tried to connect the dots. I also wrote a lot of "rapid response" articles that necessitated accurate quotes, facts and historical context. I was very involved with Carol Shea Porter from day one and couldn't afford major gaffs.Much of that work was time--sensitive.  

My lessons: Serious investigative journalism is exhausting and time consuming. You live with it all day long every day. Very few people can keep it going for long. The outstanding exception is of course Susan Bruce. Even Dean eventually had to pull back.  

---

by: Chaz Proulx @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 17:35:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In some respects we are seeing this here (4.00 / 3)

I have been really impressed over the last couple of months with the diaries and live blogging on what is going on in Concord. Blue Hampshire has been a clearinghouse of information. The print media just doesn't have the staffing anymore to cover everything that is happening in the legislature. May be why Cornerstone, the NHGOP and NHFauxJournal perceive a threat.




"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 13:07:26 PM UTC

Kathy is right ( and tireless too) (0.00 / 0)

This place is now a hub. That is something that didn't exist even a few years ago. It's critical.

And furthermore: When i mentioned long term writers in my earlier comment I didn't mention you--especially your op-eds. You were doing this for decades before most of us here and still show no sign of letting up.

Thanks

I don't think enough people appreciate that.  

---

by: Chaz Proulx @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 20:30:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

writing, investigating is good but ACTION must be a component..we know about Wisconsin but not because of words (4.00 / 2)

The folks we must reach do not know what RGGI is, they do not know who the KOCH brothers are, they don't absorb or pay attention to even the little they see in the newspapers or on the news. Most adults like children learn through repetition and visual stimulation or if something hits their pocketbook (monetize trash and people will separate it...ie pay trash bags in Concord, bottle bills, etc)..We don't just need the investigators (don't get me wrong they play a pivotal role) but we need the marketers that connect the dots, make it understandable and say it over and over again in different venues. I was talking to what I thought was very informed, smart friend, she had NO IDEA who Speakah O'Brien is, the only state official she is aware of is Lynch. What does that tell you about breaking through or being heard?

---

by: political chowder @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 13:51:42 PM UTC

Amen. To all of this. (0.00 / 0)

We need infrastructure to reach these people.  The evidence on citizen engagement is spectacularly clear - households with incomes in excess of $75,000 are four times more likely to be politically engaged than households with incomes below $50k.  We need Democracy Factories across the state that will engage local citizens in public policy issues on a level that educates and inspires them to understand that they can make a difference.

What we are witnessing is nothing less than a brutal assault on what's left of the liberal infrastructure in our country.  Attacks on Acorn, public unions, the youth, and Planned Parenthood, among many, are not by accident.  These attacks are built upon a foundation that includes years of manufactured division along cultural and economic fault lines, brilliantly dividing us.  And they are carefully targeted to disenfranchise the voices and collective action of the most vulnerable in our society.  Take away the programs that have made a difference in their lives to help sell the "government is bad" story.  

I think we are often guilty here at BH of mocking the GOP for developing a shrinking-tent political strategy.  If their strategy includes inspiring their base while ours is in despair, and we let it happen, maybe it is we who should be mocked.  

In the immediate aftermath of Since the start of the financial crisis, the Fed/Treasury lent, spent, or guaranteed $28 $29 trillion to save the banking system.

---

by: StraffordDem @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 14:30:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Shrinking tent? (0.00 / 0)

I don't think so. They are expanding their tent with their constant fear mongering. It has been shown that what truly motivates people is when you can plant the seeds of fear. They tend to remember connections related to their fear and they tend to "buy" (things... ideas... politicians, etc.) based on fear. The old "FUD" factor used by IBM sales-people so successfully for years: fear, uncertainty and doubt ...about the competition. You know the old saw "nobody ever got fired for buying IBM.  It works! The right is on the upswing because they have honed their message to tap into the growing fear/uncertainty and doubt, offering up their causes and their solutions. We, on the other hand, have offered no competing connections/vision.

Arnie is right. We need the marketers to connect the dots and keep drumming this message home in the context of what is at stake.   BUT...we are up against a vast, well-funded and effective propaganda machine that has used the most effective techniques known to Madison Avenue and dictators. What venues are left to us?  There may be some kernel of hope in the Wisconsin story.  How can we capitalize on it?

IDEAS??

"A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in."  H.L Mencken.

---

by: susaninrindge @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 15:24:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It is a shrinking tent (0.00 / 0)

when they are alienating every voting block in the country except white males over the age of 30.  I'm fairly confident that if they are expanding anything, it's their percentage of white male voters over 30.  Here's my GOP pissed-off checklist:

Piss off women?  Check.
Piss off young people?  Check.
Piss off working people?  Check.
Piss off African-Americans, Latinos, and other ethnic and racial minorities?  Check.
Piss off LGBT?  Check.
Piss off educators and families with school children?  Check.

Did I miss any?

Thus the shrinking tent.  Remember, we've won four out of the previous five presidential popular votes...For the GOP, it's about shrinking participation, not building a party of the future.

We have no chance fighting them with marketing.  We don't have the money or the message that can be boiled down into sound bites.  We don't even have the elected leaders who will stand up and fight.    If you want to know how to fight them, look at what they are trying to destroy - institutions and organizations that support collective action.  Ours has always been, and will always be a people-powered, grassroots movement.  We need infrastructure to do this - it's why Acorn's demise hurts so badly.

I'd like to see non-partisan Democracy Factories in each of our counties that educated citizens on how local government works.  From town meeting to approaching the various local boards and agencies.  People have no collective form of redress and believe, rightly or wrongly, that their individual voice is meaningless.

Chris Hedges has done incredible research on the destruction of our liberal infrastructure.  Burt had him on his show a while back - here's the link:  http://burtcohen.com/Podcasts/...

It's really worth a listen.

In the immediate aftermath of Since the start of the financial crisis, the Fed/Treasury lent, spent, or guaranteed $28 $29 trillion to save the banking system.

---

by: StraffordDem @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 15:52:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The tent may be shrinking (0.00 / 0)

But they cleaned up with us across the board last election.  Hopefully the over-reach will bring some back -- if we can reach them before they just drop out. We still need a message that resonates.

I will listen...

THX

"A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in."  H.L Mencken.

---

by: susaninrindge @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 17:20:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

in the streets (0.00 / 0)

That's why WI demonstrations have seized the mojo for the moment.

"A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in."  H.L Mencken.

---

by: susaninrindge @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 18:28:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed. (0.00 / 0)

Adding that it is instructive that WI just passed a GOP bill that requires 2/3 vote of the legislature to increase taxes - ala CA.  It doesn't look like they are expecting to stay in the majority for long.

In the immediate aftermath of Since the start of the financial crisis, the Fed/Treasury lent, spent, or guaranteed $28 $29 trillion to save the banking system.

---

by: StraffordDem @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 18:36:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If You Can Afford It (4.00 / 1)

I would be happy to help. I enjoy covering all these basketball/hockey games, but every now and then you need a change of pace.  

---

by: Andrew Sylvia @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 18:11:36 PM UTC

A few points (4.00 / 1)

Full disclosure: I would happily entertain a job offer from Patch, the Concord Monitor, or what's left of the Brockton Enterprise. But this isn't about my career or lack thereof, and it isn't about competing with or replacing them.

Mainly, this stems from my frustration, dutifully documented here and elsewhere, with the DISCONNECT between an army of concerned citizens so committed that they're willing to blog about making better politicians and the actual political actions taken by the people we help. Politicians scoff (figuratively), in the immortal words of Jon Stewart, "Oh, activists. Those are just the people that care the most."

This is about the gathering information as fuel for action. So you're invited to a house party for Senate Candidate X, and you've just spent some time in Brockton, and you ask a direct question about what you saw. After your candidate wins, in six months you ask the question again.

It's not about messaging, and it's not about serious investigative journalism. In some ways it's about reconnecting ourselves to the stuff that brought us to politics.

Thanks again.

---

by: JimC @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 18:41:08 PM UTC

And just to be clear (0.00 / 0)

It's also not about "punishing" said officials. It's about helping them deliver where it counts. Any punishment they get will be cheerfully doled out by independent voters.

---

by: JimC @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 18:50:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No Problem, Sorry For The Misunderstanding (0.00 / 0)

Full disclosure on my part as well: if a right wing organization asked me to report objectively and paid for it, I would treat it no differently than a similar request from a left wing organization.

P.S -- From the sounds of it, what you might be looking for is to start a wiki.

---

by: Andrew Sylvia @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 18:56:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't quite follow (0.00 / 0)

I mentioned Patch because it was brought up on Blue Mass Group.

Mainly, I think there's unique value in a political audience becoming ... not the audience. Taking their pajamas to the streets.

---

by: JimC @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 19:09:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lost You (0.00 / 0)

I can't speak to the citizen involvement part of Patch, i'm an independent contractor for them as well as several other media sources around here, so I'm not involved in that aspect of things.

It would certainly be nice if there were Patches in New Hampshire though, that would definitely increase the profit margin from less driving.  

---

by: Andrew Sylvia @ Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 19:47:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]