yarraReporter ProjectyarraReporter ProjectMaking Links ConferenceMaking Links Conference

November 16, 2009November 16, 2009

Civic JournalismCivic Journalism

““Thinking they have to tell smart people how to Thinking they have to tell smart people how to behave and always knowing the best action for behave and always knowing the best action for them to take is why so many media have such a them to take is why so many media have such a poor image with the public today. The people’s poor image with the public today. The people’s interest must come first” interest must come first”

(Ed Mullins, professor and chair of the journalism (Ed Mullins, professor and chair of the journalism department in University of Alabama College). department in University of Alabama College).

Aim of yarraReporter:Aim of yarraReporter:To build skills, capacity and create change for To build skills, capacity and create change for

socially socially disadvantaged communities in public housing disadvantaged communities in public housing

estates in estates in Richmond, Collingwood and Atherton Gardens Richmond, Collingwood and Atherton Gardens

through journalism training.through journalism training.

ObjectivesObjectives

•To train public housing To train public housing estate residents in civic estate residents in civic journalism;journalism;

•Increase communities’ Increase communities’ awareness on social issues awareness on social issues through internet access;through internet access;

•Bridge communication, Bridge communication, share local news via share local news via intranet and blogs with use intranet and blogs with use of multimedia (video, audio of multimedia (video, audio productions)productions)

Project goalsProject goals

Break social isolation. Break social isolation.

Increase access to information and Increase access to information and communication technology.communication technology.

Improve residents’ literacy. Improve residents’ literacy.

Increase residents’ capacity and confidence to Increase residents’ capacity and confidence to participate in community activities.participate in community activities.

StrategiesStrategiesBuild “high rise” media productionBuild “high rise” media production

Train participants in media production, content Train participants in media production, content publishing and distribution.publishing and distribution.

Train participants in news production and story Train participants in news production and story gathering techniques.gathering techniques.

Develop good media marketing skills.Develop good media marketing skills.

Publish weekly content on e-ACE and WiredC@C Publish weekly content on e-ACE and WiredC@C intranets and Yarra Reporter website, intranets and Yarra Reporter website, www.yarrareporter.org.auwww.yarrareporter.org.au

Network content produced across media outlets.Network content produced across media outlets.

Journalism Journalism

The role of journalist is to mediate The role of journalist is to mediate the rulers and citizens; they serve all the rulers and citizens; they serve all citizens in a democratic society.citizens in a democratic society.

In reality..In reality..

Mainstream media may isolate Mainstream media may isolate and neglect socially disadvantaged and neglect socially disadvantaged communities – treat them as not communities – treat them as not newsworthy (see Roshco, 1975).newsworthy (see Roshco, 1975).

Consequences:Consequences: social isolation, social isolation, low self esteem, harder to have better future.low self esteem, harder to have better future.

First batch of First batch of yarraReporters..yarraReporters..

Infoxchange Australia Infoxchange Australia PrinciplesPrinciplesThe underpinning project principles:The underpinning project principles:

Make information widely available to all, Make information widely available to all, including those who are socially disadvantaged.including those who are socially disadvantaged.

Broaden the benefit of ICT use to all; digital Broaden the benefit of ICT use to all; digital inclusion.inclusion.

Encourage cooperative partnership and Encourage cooperative partnership and information sharing within community, information sharing within community, government government and private sectors.and private sectors.

OutputsOutputsUp to 10 professional civic journalists already Up to 10 professional civic journalists already produced.produced.

News stories are regularly updated on News stories are regularly updated on Infoxchange intranets.Infoxchange intranets.

Published stories in independent media.Published stories in independent media.

Project indicators and Project indicators and measurementsmeasurements

Journalism content published or broadcast on Journalism content published or broadcast on intranets and on mainstream media.intranets and on mainstream media.

Participants involved.Participants involved.

Audiences’ access to the journalism content.Audiences’ access to the journalism content.

Audiences’ comments.Audiences’ comments.

Audiences’ postings to intranets. Audiences’ postings to intranets.

Site hits.Site hits.

Social Media and Social Media and yarraReporteryarraReporter

Utilise social media networks Facebook and Utilise social media networks Facebook and Twitter as a strategic method to promote Twitter as a strategic method to promote yarraReporter to the wider community.yarraReporter to the wider community.

Using the Infoxchange networks to expand the Using the Infoxchange networks to expand the awareness of the initiative.awareness of the initiative.

Content: yarraReporter implements Hyperlocal Content: yarraReporter implements Hyperlocal Journalism, focusing primarily on the issues Journalism, focusing primarily on the issues affecting government housing residents in the affecting government housing residents in the City of Yarra.City of Yarra.

Where to next?Where to next?Replication of the yarraReporter model in other Replication of the yarraReporter model in other housing estates around Melbourne (Youthbeat).housing estates around Melbourne (Youthbeat).

Attract local business to use yarraReporter to Attract local business to use yarraReporter to advertise, creating revenue and eventually advertise, creating revenue and eventually payment to the yarraReporters for their content.payment to the yarraReporters for their content.

Constantly developing content for the website in Constantly developing content for the website in order to create consistent interest and, as it is order to create consistent interest and, as it is updated, so too are the social network sites updated, so too are the social network sites leading to community awareness. leading to community awareness.

PartnershipsPartnershipsSwinburne University Swinburne University Media and CommunicationsMedia and CommunicationsDepartment, Department,

3ZZZ,3ZZZ,

The Age,The Age,

Mentoring process.Mentoring process.

FundingFundingThe project receives funding from The project receives funding from Portland Portland House FoundationHouse Foundation and the and the City of Yarra City of Yarra Council.Council.

We thank them for their generous support.We thank them for their generous support.

Thank you.Thank you.

Contacts:Contacts:

Setyo BudiSetyo Budi

Telephone 0406 381 873Telephone 0406 381 873

Email: Email: budi@infoxchange.net.aubudi@infoxchange.net.au

Web: Web: http://www.yarrareporter.org.auhttp://www.yarrareporter.org.au//