A New Kind of Journalist?

Abstract

Chapter Five situates the cases explored in this book within the larger landscape of engaged journalism and solutions journalism in North America. It offers several mini-cases of solutions journalism and relational engagement that are centered not on newsrooms, but on communities and their needs. Focusing on the perspective of journalists, it features organizations including Capital Public Radio’s Story Circles, Center for Investigative Reporting, City Bureau, The Discourse, Free Press News Voices, Listening Post Collective, Outlier Media, Resolve Philadelphia, and Your Voice Ohio. The cases look at how these groups assess local information needs, use community organizing strategies to build relationships with community stakeholders, and grapple with challenges around funding and evaluation. Through interviews with leaders of these groups, the cases illustrate how these community-centered projects are pushing boundaries of journalism, and how norms and practices must be reimagined for journalism to contribute to stronger local communication infrastructures.