This series of courses will give you a firm foundation in tackling and talking about the issues that are important to you and your communities. Communicate across traditional and emerging media with impact, energy and with integrity
People are always the answer. It’s a time-hewn mantra of community strengthening charity C2, and now we’re bringing it to grass-roots, community-based, solutions-focused journalism.
AI slop, disinformation and growing anxiety
AI slop, disinformation and growing anxiety keep us apart and fuel isolation. Online, news battles against algorithms. On the ground, information battles against rumour.
Starting with communities
Starting with communities to identify their own priorities and the area’s strength, that’s then put into the context of sharing those stories, seeking solutions to those issues and celebrating what’s good.
The course will take those topics and use them, and other identified issues, as the basis of sessions and meet ups to explore news gathering, phototaking, video-making, audio-collecting and storytelling. And as anyone who has been in a community, or an editorial meeting knows, the end story might be different to what was first imagined.
Understand what’s possible
C2 leans into complexity to understand what’s possible in a process that combats powerlessness, hopelessness, disconnectedness and passivity. A key strength is getting those who work in a community to come together with those who live in a community. Journalism, especially solutions-focused journalism, brings those people together through enquiry and understanding. To solve a problem you first need to understand it. It also offers responsibility, skills, and standards.
Trusted sources and connection
Adding into this we will be talking democratic structures and civic responsibility. And for online, we’ll start to introduce some notions of the Fediverse, as well as what to look for from trusted sources, right to reply, fact checking. But really, this is all about connection.
It is also an opportunity for the celebration of people and places which makes your community special.
Refine skills to share voices, insights and understanding with weekly sessions and popups.
- Celebrate people and place
- Communities set the agenda
- How journalism can be part of a solution
- Connecting people and sharing experiences (to tackle challenges)
- Develop and enhance storytelling and technical skills
- Build community resilience
Together we will look at:
- The role of journalism / being active / taking an interest
- Identify local stories and issues and how to go about researching them
- Conduct ethical and effective interviews
- Write clear, accurate, and engaging news articles
- Explore the shape of stories
- Use multimedia tools (audio, video, social media)
- Effective photography, filmmaking, editing and visual storytelling
- Podcasting and collecting audio
- Fact-check and verify information
- Sharing stories.
Coming up: Avoid AI Slop | Root out and fight fake news | Stop, look, listen – creative reviews
These community journalism courses are brought to you by News and Media Republic and C2 Connecting Communities. Years of experience of sharing stories and bringing people together.
To book or to discuss contact lee@newsandmediarepublic.org or on 07886526874