The practice of Engaged Journalism is evolving all the time, in large part due to its connectedness to community needs. As such, the resources in this guide will evolve as the practice does. Most of these ideas and resources are rooted in work by, and collaborations with, Journalism That Matters.
This guide provides suggestions and best practices for how to ethically collaborate with communities while ethically seeking participation and feedback from them.
This guide features insights from four journalists—Adriana Gallardo, Kavolshaia Howze, Terry Parris Jr., and Natalie Yahr—on building relationships with communities through understanding culture, listening deeply, and collaborating on storytelling.
Build relationships by listening actively, building trust, and engaging with diverse voices. Collaborate with local groups, stay accountable, and maintain transparency in your reporting. Keep connections strong by following up and valuing the community’s unique insights.
Building trust between journalists and communities involves authenticity, responsiveness, and respecting expertise. Setting clear expectations and engaging in casual conversations can help foster comfort and understanding.
Building trust between journalists and communities involves authenticity, responsiveness, and respecting expertise. Setting clear expectations and engaging in casual conversations can help foster comfort and understanding.
Journalists often face limits on how long they can work with a community. Natalie advises being upfront about timelines, especially with disenfranchised groups, to avoid unmet expectations about ongoing involvement.
