Why I’m Sick of Hearing About ‘Community Journalism’
Look, I’ve been around the block. 20+ years in this game, and I’ve seen it all. The rise of digital, the fall of print, the never-ending dance with algorithms. But honestly? The thing that gets under my skin more than anything else is the constant drumbeat about ‘community journalism.’
It’s not that I don’t believe in it. I do. But it’s the way people talk about it like it’s some kinda magic bullet. Like if we just sprinkle enough ‘community’ fairy dust on our newsrooms, everything will be fixed. Newsflash: it’s not that simple.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and said, ‘We just need to connect with our communities more.’ And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Yeah, no kidding, Marcus. Tell us something we don’t know.’
But here’s the thing: connecting with your community isn’t some grand, abstract concept. It’s about showing up. It’s about listening. It’s about actually giving a damn about the people you’re supposed to be serving.
My Biggest Failure (And Why It Still Bugs Me)
Back in 2018, I was editing a small paper in upstate New York. We had this big scoop about a local factory shutting down. 214 jobs gone. Just like that. And we ran the story, but we ran it like we always did—straight facts, no fluff. And you know what? It wasn’t enough.
I should have sent reporters out to talk to the workers. I should have done a follow-up on how the community was coping. I should have made it personal. But I didn’t. And that’s on me.
I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about it over coffee at the place on 5th. He said, ‘You can’t just throw facts at people and expect them to care.’ And he was right. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Problem With ‘Engagement’
Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying we should abandon hard news. But we need to stop thinking of ‘engagement’ as some kinda box to check. It’s not about likes or shares or comments. It’s about actual, real-life impact.
Take restaurant opening news, for example. That’s the kind of thing that might not seem like ‘real’ news, but it’s what people care about. It’s what affects their daily lives. And if we’re not covering it, we’re failing.
I get it—it’s not glamorous. It’s not going to win you any Pulitzer prizes. But it’s important. And if we’re serious about serving our communities, we need to start acting like it.
A Quick Tangent: The Time I Interviewed a Mayor
So, about three months ago, I interviewed this mayor—let’s call him Greg—for a story. And he kept using this phrase, ‘We need to move the needle.’ And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Greg, what does that even mean?’
But here’s the thing: that’s the kind of language that gets thrown around in politics, and it’s the kind of language that makes people tune out. We need to cut through the jargon and talk to people like actual human beings.
And that’s what community journalism should be about. It’s not about moving needles or driving engagement or any of that corporate-speak. It’s about telling stories that matter. It’s about holding power to account. It’s about making a difference.
It’s about 11:30pm deadlines and coffee-stained notebooks and showing up when nobody else will. It’s about the messy, complicated, beautiful work of telling the truth.
Why I’m Still Optimistic (Despite Everything)
I know it’s easy to get cynical. I know it’s easy to think that local news is doomed. But I don’t believe that. I think there’s still hope. I think there are still stories worth telling.
And I think that if we can remember why we got into this business in the first place—if we can remember that our job is to serve our communities, not just chase clicks or win awards—then maybe, just maybe, we can start making a difference again.
So let’s get to work.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years, working with major publications and covering everything from politics to pop culture. She’s opinionated, flawed, and not afraid to speak her mind. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking too much coffee and complaining about the state of modern journalism.
To gain a clearer perspective on how we engage with information today, consider exploring this in-depth analysis on the challenges of modern news consumption.
To gain a deeper understanding of the potential consequences surrounding rapid AI development, consider this insightful piece on the unfolding AI gold rush.
