‘Journalism Alongside’: A Reflection on Teaching Journalism Through Community Engagement

Abstract

This paper reflects on a service-learning public journalism project in which postgraduate journalism students have explored several ways to engage with and report alongside diverse communities. The aim of this paper has been to experiment with community journalism practices that give greater power to communities by prioritizing listening, reciprocity and bilateral engagement. By testing a ‘side-by-side’ storytelling process and prioritizing reflection on students’ relationships, dialogues and interactions with sources and communities, the community-focused and embedded project, has aimed to build students’ understanding of inclusive journalism, civic responsibility and intercultural communication as it relates to their practice.

Keywords

Service-learning civic engagement community journalism trust

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