New York State Communication Association Conference 2021
Alexandra Whitbeck was on a NYSCA panel about community journalism with Hofstra University professors Scott Brinton and Mario Murillo, and fellow Hofstra students Damali Ramirez and Amudalat Ajasa.
KEY THEMES/TALKING POINTS:
Personal/professional background in the field and in journalism education
How that experience informs your work both in the community and in the classroom;
Reflections on some of the major stories you have covered so far;
Anecdotes and personal biographic information;
Are you a journalist or a student?
Navigating this fine line between learning and practicing,
Maintaining your legitimacy in the eyes of the communities you’re covering
How did your journalism training (class work) prep you (or did NOT prep you) to address complicated situations in the field? Examples?
As faculty, how do you approach this with your students?
Community Journalism as Distinct Reporting Practice
Representation and looking like the people you cover – ie, being a part of the community;
How does one build trust in community when you’re locked into a 15-week semester;
Building trust by being present – avoiding “extractive” or “helicopter” reporting;
Getting back to the same sources on ongoing stories;
Depending on existing contacts to find other sources.
Concrete case studies and examples of the good, the bad and the ugly.
Outcomes and Measuring Success
How do you measure community impact?
How does this work impact your own reporting?
Future Goals/Objectives
Plans for the foreseeable future
How will you follow up on this work upon graduation?