civic journalism
n. A journalism model that solicits increased citizen feedback and then uses this feedback to attempt to frame public debate in ways that are reflective of people's concerns.
Examples
1998
Some will call the schools report "new journalism" or "civic journalism." The only adjective I'd apply is excellent.
—William Raspberry, “Good News Finishes Last,” The Washington Post, December 28, 1998
1998
There are many variations to civic journalism and numerous critics. But the idea is to encourage reporters to spend more time talking to citizens and less time gazing through the same lens as pols, elites and spin doctors.
—Mark Jurkowitz, “Media need to innovate if they want to rebuild public trust,” The Boston Globe, November 01, 1998
1994 (earliest)
He sees "Democracy" as delivering "depth, deliberation, duration, dialogue" nationally and locally. As he outlines it, the project encompasses several strands: "civic journalism," in which reporters go to the public to find out their concerns, then seek responses from political leaders.
—Judith Michaelson, “PBS' man of destiny,” Los Angeles Times, September 25, 1994
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