It’s one thing to write your memoirs or an op-ed piece. It’s another to tackle an article with a journalist’s hat on. Below are some excellent resources to help you hone your skills for reporting and writing.
Center for Citizen Media: This initiative is aimed at enabling and encouraging grassroots media, especially citizen journalism, at every level. The nonprofit center is jointly affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University Law School.
This site is loaded with useful information. Particularly, look for the very valuable Principles of Citizen Journalism “Accuracy, Thoroughness, Fairness, Transparency and Independence.” Under “Accuracy, don’t miss the “Accuracy tip sheet.”
Knight Citizen News Network: This site contains many resources, examples and best practices. It is an initiative of J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, a center of the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism, and is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism helps news organizations and citizens use new information ideas and innovative computer technologies to develop new ways for people to engage in critical public policy issues. J-Lab is a center of the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism. It is a spin-off of the Pew Center for Civic Journalism.
Here you’ll find lots of examples of participatory journalism. The J-Learning link includes such articles as mastering HTML as well as a blog on 2.0 journalism.
Poynter Institute: A school for journalists, future journalists and teachers of journalists. Poynter is well-known among online journalists and editors for its gossipy Romenesko blog, but cit journalists should take advantage of its bibliography resource page on Citizen / Public Journalism.
CyberJournalist.net: This news and resource site focuses on how the Internet, convergence and new technologies are changing the media. The site offers tips, news and commentary about online journalism, citizen’s media, digital storytelling, converged news operations and using the Internet as a reporting tool.
Your Guide to Citizen Journalism: This article dates from 2006, but the basic ideas haven’t changed. Good discussion about what to actually call “citizen journalism” too – and that hasn’t changed either.
Helium partners with the National Press Club
If you are a Helium five-star writer, you can apply to the news club that the nation’s most notable journalists, government officials and top news sources call home. The National Press Club (NPTC) has partnered with Helium to recognize the value of citizen journalism. This is the first time in the NPC’s 100-year history that it has made outreach to a non-traditional news outlet.
But it starts with your writing stars. Here’s the lowdown on earning writing stars at Helium.
How to apply: Go to the National Press Club Join page.
Questions or comments? Ask or talk in the Helium Community .
About the National Press Club
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club has 3,700 members worldwide and is the nation’s most prestigious journalists’ club. The Club regularly hosts world leaders and other newsworthy speakers at its famous podium. NPC programs and other events are broadcast on CSPAN and other media on a regular and ongoing basis. NPC is on the web at www.press.org.
