The civic journalism movement (also known as public journalism) is, according to professor David K. Perry of the University of Alabama, an attempt to abandon the notion that journalists and their audiences are spectators in political and social processes. In its place, the civic journalism movement seeks to treat readers and community members as participants. With a small but committed following, civic journalism has become as much of a philosophy as it is a practice.

Definition[link]

According to the now dormant Pew Center for Civic Journalism, the practice "is both a philosophy and a set of values supported by some evolving techniques to reflect both of those in journalism. At its heart is a belief that journalism has an obligation to public life – an obligation that goes beyond just telling the news or unloading lots of facts. The way we do our journalism affects the way public life goes."^[1] Leading organizations in the field such as the now dormant Pew Center, the Kettering Foundation, the Civic and Citizen Journalism Interest Group in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and the Public Journalism Network assist with the spread of civic journalism across the country—one university and one paper at a time.

Main tenets[link]

According to The Roots of Civic Journalism by David K. Perry,^[2] the practitioners of civic journalism –- who saw the movement's most drastic growth in the early 1990s –- have always adhered to the basic tenets of public journalism:

• "Attempting to situate newspapers and journalists as active participants in community life, rather than as detached spectators."
• "Making a newspaper a forum for discussion of community issues."
• "Favoring the issues, events and problems important to ordinary people."
• "Considering public opinion through the process of discussion and debate among members of a community."
• "Attempting to use journalism to enhance social capital."

Structure[link]

Usually formulated by a few devoted members in a newsroom, civic journalism projects are typically associated with the opinion section of papers. These projects are usually found in the form of organized town meetings and adult education programs. The Public Journalism Network explains that "journalism and democracy work best when news, information and ideas flow freely; when news portrays the full range and variety of life and culture of all communities; when public deliberation is encouraged and amplified; and when news helps people function as political actors and not just as political consumers."^[3]

Key proponents of civic journalism[link]

• David Mathews, president of the Kettering Foundation and a supporter of civic journalism states that, "when people are in the business of making choices, they are going to look for information to inform their choices." Mathews affirms that civic journalism is aimed at aligning journalistic practices with the ways that citizens form publics, in turn creating a more efficient and reciprocal way of communicating with readers.

• Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at New York University, is one of the earliest proponents of civic journalism. From 1998-99, Rosen wrote and spoke frequently about civic journalism. He published his book, What Are Journalists For? in 1999 about the early rise of the civic journalism movement.^[4] Rosen writes a popular blog called PressThink.

• W. Davis "Buzz" Merritt Jr., a former editor of The Wichita Eagle, is another pioneer of civic journalism. Merritt is a key advocate for news media reforms, and published his book Public Journalism and Public Life in 1995. Merritt began exploring civic journalism after acknowledging loss of public trust in traditional journalistic values. Merritt feels that journalists need a clear understanding and appreciation for the interdependence of journalism and democracy.

Merritt's view[link]

In a National Public Radio interview Merritt succinctly summed up civic journalism as, "a set of values about the craft that recognizes and acts upon the interdependence between journalism and democracy. It values the concerns of citizens over the needs of the media and political actors, and conceives of citizens as stakeholders in the democratic process rather than as merely victims, spectators or inevitable adversaries. As inherent participants in the process, we should do our work in ways that aid in the resolution of public problems by fostering broad citizen engagement."^[5]

Case studies[link]

• Citizen Voices

The Citizen Voices Project was one newspaper’s attempt to facilitate civic conversation within the diverse city of Philadelphia. Citizen Voices came in to effect in 1999, during a very close mayoral election between a black democrat and a white republican. Citizen Voices was modeled on the National Issues Forum and was intended to amplify minority voices not frequently acknowledged in the political realm. Forums were held throughout the city, facilitating deliberation of the most important issues facing citizens: jobs, neighborhoods, public safety, and reforming city hall. Essays written by Citizen Voices participants were published in the commentary pages of The Philadelphia Inquirer, while the editorial board framed its coverage of the campaign around the five designated issues. While the Citizen Voices Project did not increase voter turnout, it has given journalists a new perspective on how to cover urban political issues.

• Front Porch Forum

In Seattle, the Front Porch Forum was introduced in 1994 through a partnership between The Seattle Times newspaper, KUOW-FM radio station and the Pew Center for Civic Journalism. The mission of the Front Porch Forum was to strengthen communities through news coverage that focuses on citizens’ concerns, encourages civic participation, improves public deliberation and reconnects citizens, candidates and reporters to community life. Over the course of 5 ½ years, The Seattle Times and KUOW-FM featured a series of stories highlighting issues that affect Seattle residents, and encouraged readers' participation.

See also[link]

Journalism portal

References[link]

External links[link]

• Pew Center for Civic Journalism
• Kettering Foundation
• Jay Rosen of New York University
• Citizen Voices
• Public Journalism Network
• Citizen/Public Journalism Bibliography

This article may contain wording that merely promotes the subject without imparting verifiable information. Please remove or replace such wording, unless you can cite independent sources that support the characterization. (September 2009)

Steve Sweeney (born September 5, 1949) is an American comedian.

Biography[link]

Sweeney was born in Charlestown, a section of Boston. His Boston accent and idiosyncratic mannerisms are trademarks of his stand-up act, headlining at comedy clubs across the country, including Caroline's Comedy Club in New York City.

A graduate of Charlestown High School, he earned a BA in Theatre Arts at the University of Massachusetts (1974) and an MFA from the University of Southern California.

During the early 1970s, a small group of Boston 'would-be' comedians would regularly perform at a comedy club started by Martin Olson and Barry Crimmins in a back room of the Chinese restaurant, Ding-Ho, near Inman Square in Cambridge, MA. This group also included such unknowns as Lenny Clarke, Kevin Meaney, Jay Leno, Bobcat Goldthwait, Bill Sohonage, and Steven Wright.^{[clarification needed]} Steve Sweeney is known for his use of dialects and great insight into the New England political scene in his act.

Steve was the first of the Boston super-stars to break into television,^{[clarification needed]} Steve was on Park Street Under, a Boston based sitcom who many believe was the inspiration for the highly successful television show Cheers. He has been on show such as The Late Show with David Letterman, Evening at The Improv, Comics Come Home and others.^{[clarification needed]} Some will recognize Steve from one of many small parts in films such as Rodney Dangerfield's Back to School, Judd Apatow's Celtic Pride, and There's Something About Mary with Ben Stiller.

For a short time Steve was on the morning show on 100.7 FM WZLX, first with "Mornings with Tai and Steve Sweeney", followed by "Steve Sweeney's Neighborhood" after Tai left the station.

On November 3, 2005, Steve opened Steve Sweeney's Comedy Club in Boston's Copley Square with longtime friend Dick Doherty.

Currently, along with doing stand-up, he is also a guest judge on the local talent show "Community Auditions".[1]

Television and film career[link]

• The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show (1983) TV
• New Wave Comedy (1986)
• Back to School (1986)
• Billy Galvin (1986)
• Comics Come Home (1995)
• Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995–1999) TV
• Celtic Pride (1996)
• Comics Come Home 2 (1996)
• Nil by Mouth, Directed by Gary Oldman, Character as Danny (1997)
• Behind the Zipper with Magda (1998)
• Next Stop Wonderland (1998)
• Southie (1998)
• There's Something About Mary (1998)
• Vig (1998)
• Baywatch (1999) TV
• Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
• Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (2002) TV
• Phantom Gourmet - Credit Card Roulette (2008) TV

External links[link]

• Steve Sweeney (II) at the Internet Movie Database
• [2] - Bio