Citizen journalism training kansas-links
Ralph Gage discussed the academy in 2007:
I am certain this program concept could be taken anywhere there's a journalism school. I believe the sessions should be spread out. We've even discussed having two weeks between sessions so that the class members had more time to do homework assignments and we had more time to review them. But we've nixed that.
A week between sessions has just the right intensity and continuity to keep people involved. Remember, they have jobs, families and other responsibilities. I do not believe a weekend would suffice. And we believe it is necessary for the class to do reporting, photography, blogging, etc. Surprisingly, the second class was very technically proficient and members all had or had access to the equipment they needed.
I also should stress how much fun these sessions have been. We have been fortunate to have met some great people through these classes. We have tried to have a diverse group. Military. Law enforcement. Education. Retired. High School. From Lawrence and small towns. Varied educational backgrounds. Really bright and fun people, too. And the sessions are absolutely the best PR for journalism that we can imagine. You have the dean and top faculty of the school, the COO of the media company, top managers, etc. Open access. It is definitely one of the best things we've ever done.
Here is a list of some of the stories they have produced for us:
Lori (Vinoverski) Carson is host of Home & Away. http://www.freestatestudios.com/homeandaway/
Eileen Roddy Phillips does a column (My Cup of Tea) for the J-W and a boomergirl.com column: http://www.boomergirl.com/blogs/shift-happens/2007/may/19/consumer-challenges/ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/04/la_prima_tazza_barista_knows_his_coffee_and_tea/ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/21/irish_transplant_searches_perfect_cuppa_lawrence/
She also wrote a story about the first CJA class: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/nov/04/journalism_academy_graduates_first_class/
Dee Ann Raker is writing the wrapup for the second class. The story runs on Saturday. (Bill, this is the story you referenced.)
Bob Thurber has written these stories: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/10/letter_carriers_collect_food_stock_areas_nine_pant/ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/mar/14/castle_tea_room_coming_back_life/ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/dec/13/fritzel_group_moving_ahead_library_expansion_propo/
Mike Penner interviewed new congresswoman Nancy Boyda soon after her election: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/dec/18/boyda_vows_focus_service/ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/dec/18/read_full_transcript_boyda_interview/
On a return trip home from Albuquerque to Lawrence, Denise Gossage interviewed a Greensburg family just days after the tornado that leveled their home: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/10/family_tells_vivid_story_living_through_deadly_tor/
CJA students helped cover the November election and shopping the day after Thanksgiving: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/nov/24/shoppers_out_force_morning/ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/nov/07/early_turnout_strong_lawrence_voting_sites/
Several CJA fellows took part in 24 Hours in Lawrence and were published in the J-W: Eileen Roddy: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/22/coffee_and_conversation/ Matt Lehrman: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/22/waiting_train/ Dee Ann Rucker: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/22/heres_johnnys/ Lori Vinoverski: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/may/22/fending_herself/
