Topic: Identifying, Recruiting. Training and Retaining Community Journalists

Convener: Scott Hall

Participants: Dave, Cecily, Clyde, Martin, Linda

Recruits may come through grapevines, word-of-mouth, people who walk in the door, “careful solicitations”

Careful solicitations – journalism is a tough job, requiring odd hours and rigorous writing and reporting skills. You can’t expect and shouldn’t require recruits to acquire these skills to qualify as a community journalist.

So you identify their passions, hobbies, expertise and facilitate their sharing.

Bloggers in your area may be a place to look for recruits.

Their areas of expertise may not be the core issues or priorities of your professional newsroom. You have to let go of that control and become the facilitator.

The professional journalist or facilitator shapes or creates the format or context, and guides the expression of the material to some degree.

Retaining community journalists: their passion and the facilitator’s thoughtful cultivation of those interests and skills will sustain their interest/participation. Maintain the relationships and provide the resources for their “sharing” (as distinct from reporting).