Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Go Look at this Project
Some of my former collegues at the Freep just did a great project where they got unprecedented access to children in a local foster home. The Freep writes:Free Press photographer Kathleen Galligan spent three years photographing the children at Christ Child House. The Michigan Department of Human Services, which rarely grants permission to openly photograph children in its custody, gave the Free Press this unusual access to highlight the plight of Michigan's foster children.
"It's an effort to educate the public on the challenges we face," said Bill Johnson, head of the Michigan Children's Institute, the DHS division with legal custody of the kids.
Referring to Christ Child, he said, "They're a small agency, but they do a great job."
The project features stories, video, and great photographs featuring the boys that live at Christ Child and tell you a little about who they are and what they've gone through. The project features things you can do to help, as well. They also did something I thought was really cool --- they did a gallery of kids who still need adoptive homes. It's a small thing, but I just thought it was great.
If nothing else, flip through the pictures in this project. I did that quickly after reading about the project in Al's Morning Meeting. For some reason, seeing these kids just living their lives almost brought me to tears. Maybe I'm just a sap, but that's what journalism is about: giving people a glimpse into someone else's life.
Labels: community journalism, heart, inspiration, photos
continue...Monday, December 01, 2008
Interesting take on community journalism
More than a few newspaper journalists were excited by the all-out-scramble to score print editions the day after the election. I'm sad to announce, if you hadn't already figured, that Nov. 5th and 6th did not save newspapers from trouble.But there's hope...
Laidoff journalists, freelancers and community watchdogs are quickly (and, perhaps, have always been) turning to the Web and to non-profit organizations to fund the more costly (and often meaningful) journalistic endeavors. (When your paper won't...or can't.)
Spot.Us is a nonprofit project of the Center for Media Change, where-by "the public can commission journalists to do investigations on important and perhaps overlooked stories."
Donors get tax breaks. And if the MSM picks up your work, donors are reimbursed. It's an awesome way to collaborate on on stories.
Now if I only had a story I need funding for...wait...I think I do.
Labels: community journalism, freelance, main stream media, the industry
continue...