Participatory Journalism

A Participatory Journalist uses the skills of journalism on a community level, focusing on the process, not just the headline, in a effort to rebuild trust amongst communities. 

Journalism is currently one of the least trusted professions. In fact according to one study, we are trusted less than estate agents and only just a notch above politicians. While studying my BA and my Masters, it was depressing to realise that I was getting into an industry that was in such bad regard. Many of us journalists have good intentions and wish to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’. But when the job market is so overwhelmed and many companies continue to hire in house, it can feel like an uphill battle to stick to our morals.

When studying clowning (yes I am multi-skilled!), the phrase that came up again and again was ‘change the game’. If something isn’t working ‘change the game’, and that is how I have come up with this new term; Participatory Journalism. 

In its most honest form, journalists are a voice for the people, we are meant to ‘hold powers to account’ - the song echoed at the start of every law class during my course. But we have lost our way among the forest of click bait, fake news and general online mayhem! 

When do you trust something the most? When you have experienced it for yourself, when you have seen it with your own eyes, when it has affected you personally. Participatory Journalism aims to take the power and the stories back into the marginalised communities. Using the skills I have learnt from my career and courses; interviewing, listening, objectivity and seeking human stories, my goal as a journalist is going to be to bring communities together through activity. This will then in turn be turned into a story (most likely audio for me), but its the PROCESS that is important, not the headline.

Too often a journalist will arrive, grab a nugget for the publication and then head back to the office. But what about the rest of the nuggets in the box? What about the person who arrives late who has a different point of view, what about everything that we have missed by being a bystander and not really absorbing the story. There obviously is a time and place still for this type of journalism, but for me it’s not my story! It also won’t rebuild the trust we have lost. 

Every guest we had during my Masters asked the same question… “How can we re-gain the trust of our audiences” - answers were vague and usually revolved around the journalist still believing that people were still listening to them - as we all like to think! Meanwhile, trust is thin and wavering, communities are still crumbling while being ignored and many people are still believing flat out lies they hear online. 

Let’s get ourselves out from behind the screens and in the rooms with the people whose voices need elevating. Participatory Journalism gives us a chance to utilise our skills as journalists to better communities, participating in their worlds and telling their stories. 

Who is going to join me in this new movement of journalism?