Here is the latest suggestion for our Mission statement. This one comes from Jan Schaffer.


It reads: Mission: This is an association of journalists and educators interested in creating and refining quality journalism that more effectively engages citizens and thereby strengthens democracy.

Her logic: "To me, civic journalism is not about US, the journalists. It's about THEM, the readers, listeners, viewers. It's about how journalism can engage them in public issues -- by attending a meeting, joining, volunteering, voting, participating in civic life in some fashion. It's about holding citizens just as accountable as we would hold public officials.

"I'm troubled that our mission and goals are too inward-focused. They're about US. I'm squirming at a naval-gazing quality; it feels offputting. Even a bit sanctimonious."

Take a look at the Charter and take a look at Buzz Merritt's, Neil Heinen's and Tom Warhover's mission and goal statements at the forum.

Also while at the forum, see what Stan Mukasa

is saying about Africa and public journalism

and what Hideya Terashima

is saying about Japan and public journalism.

Posted by Leonard Witt at 9:31 PM | Link

 
Okay, so it is a bad play on words, but what the heck. Our project is creating a little bit of a media buzz. We have been contacted by Presstime and Quill and Editor & Publisher mentioned this new society on its web site. So the word is getting out.

Buzz Merritt is also back. The first post on Phase I of our online forum was by Buzz and the first post on Phase II was by Buzz. Of course, this is fitting because some of the first thoughts on public journalism were his too.

He has taken to task the second paragraph of our mission statement which says:

Our goal is to strengthen the practice and quality of journalism everywhere.

He would rather:

Our goal is to strengthen the practice and quality of journalism everywhere and thereby strengthen public life and democracy everywhere.

As an alternative, he writes:

As journalism and democracy are fully interdependent, our goal is to strengthen democracy by strengthening the journalism that underlies it.

Also our tagline "Democracy's Watchdogs" is being received a little less favorably than I guessed it would have been. Neither Buzz nor Tom Warhover are impressed. Warhover writes:

Democracy's Watchdog has a great ring to it. But a watchdog simply barks, not builds. We need to do both.

What do think? It is your Charter and your professional society. Read the Charter Draft and then visit the forum with your comments.

Finally, I am asking Stanford Mukasa, a former journalist in Zimbabwe, to tell us more about the need for public journalism in Africa. Watch for the post, it should be interesting.

Posted by Leonard Witt at 10:40 PM | Link

 
If you've already registered a username and password for the Web forum but can't remember one of both of them, don't despair.

You can log in with your email address if you've forgotten your username. And there's a Lost Password button on the login page.

If you still have trouble, email me.

And of course, for those of you who've not yet registered, just click the Register button on that same login page.

Posted by Griff Wigley at 10:31 AM | Link

 
Welcome back everyone to Phase II of our online forum to build a Charter for our new public journalism society.

After reading the Phase I posts, our name choice is The International Society of Public Journalists. But like the rest of the rewritten Charter, it is just part of the draft. Now we have to critique and amend that draft.

When you read Cole Campbell's rewrite, you will see it incorporates a lot of the comments made in Phase I of the forum. Personally, I think it is evolving into an extremely strong, thoughtful and practical document. It is a wonderful example of the power of public discourse.

While reading through our excerpts from Phase I of our online forum, I was especially taken by how Dennis Foley of the Orange County Register described public journalists. He said, “We are democracy’s watchdogs.”

He wrote, “Journalists have limited their vision and failed to acknowledge that we are not just community watchdogs, or government watchdogs, or the watchdogs of power, of the afflicters of the comfortable. We are democracy's watchdogs.”

And as democracy’s watchdogs, Foley wrote, “Journalists have a tremendous role and responsibility to cover their communities in ways that accurately reveals the breadth and depth of community life in the public arena.”

Phase I was filled with interesting insights like Foley’s. The postings can be read in depth by browsing the archived discussion topics in the web forum or by going to the excerpts section.

The excerpts are an excellent prelude to Phase Two of our online forum which begins now. Phase Two will be the last chance to critique and help amend this Charter draft before the live Charter Meeting at Kennesaw State University on January, 24-25, 2003.

We need your thoughts. Read the Charter. Then critique it at the forum.

And thanks to all those who participated in Phase I. The fruits of your labors are evident in the Charter.

I am convinced that after you read this draft of the Charter you will agree that we are all participating in an important and exciting project that will enhance both journalism and our democratic institutions.

Posted by Leonard Witt at 11:37 PM | Link