The Newton Daily News strives to report the news that is important to its community, but we also have to acknowledge our limitations.
We don’t have an infinite supply of reporters to be everywhere all the time. And, we can only report the news stories we know about.
That’s where citizen journalism is so vitally important. Not only can it provide help in covering our community, it can also provide an important check and balance, which adds credibility and reliability in the finished product.
But, citizen journalism, if not performed correctly, can lead to problems.
Last year, the Daily News offered its first-ever Citizen Journalism Academy. And while only a handful of folks took us up on the offer, those who did learned not only how we do our job, but how they could more effectively get their messages out to the public.
We’re going to host another Citizen Journalism Academy soon.
It will again be a five-week program with a 90-minute session each week, beginning Thursday, March 20. Each session will focus on a different aspect of journalism, allowing participants to not only learn about our profession and how we do it, but to learn skills and techniques they can apply later.
More information will be provided in special advertisements in the Daily News and Jasper County Advertiser in the days ahead. But, if you would like to apply for the upcoming academy, you may contact Editor Bob Eschliman at (641) 792-3121, ext. 423, or at beschliman@newtondailynews.com.