To better inform people doing the work of supporting democracy, journalists must start seeing themselves as part of a larger, decentralized network of the civic body rather than as part of a siloed industry. The information they provide is just one stream in the larger flow of information that supports collective sense-making.
Building and keeping public trust takes a dedicated team that is willing to do the work to drive the momentum forward, manage crises effectively, and keep the focus on our public service mission. The question, “Why should I trust you?” should be top of mind daily to journalists, who must be responsive in order to be successful in their work.
Who and what we see when we talk about democracy and what types of civic information are produced in that democracy are collective issues that journalists can’t solve on our own. The best response to the current crisis in journalism is to get more people involved at a level on which everyone can participate as more than mere consumers of local information.
In a new collection of essays published by the Kettering Foundation, journalists reflect openly and honestly on their attempts to do their work in new and better ways. Their reflections offer insights into how journalism might help in repairing our civic fabric and strengthening American democracy. The following four essays were originally published in a Kettering Foundation book, Re-Inventing Journalism to Strengthen Democracy: Insights from Innovators.
The democracy-saving and enhancing capacities of local leaders - as well as the weaknesses and limitations they face - can be instructive for all kinds of efforts to make democracy more inclusive, participatory, and equitable.
A celebrated artist and educator, Willis Davis has been creating art that mirrors the complexities and sometimes the shortcomings of American democracy his entire life. Davis and Kettering Foundation President Sharon L. Davies explored his work in the first of a planned series of conversations with democracy innovators.
El Paso has implemented several strategies for educating people about the importance of vaccination and combatting misinformation. Having a variety of messengers also proved essential. We tasked local elected officials, subject-matter experts, celebrities, and sports stars with delivering specific messages to the communities in which they have influence through press briefings, commercials, interviews, and one-on-one interactions.
The National Civic League is building on the civic assistance program started in 2021 and continues to work with Colorado communities to better align issues of equity into communities’ engagement with residents.
Existing measures of civic engagement have centered on individual behavior and activity. A more useful way to understand civic engagement in a community context is by considering individual engagement as well as the extent to which communities can organize themselves to access resources and secure the services needed by their residents.
