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Local News is a Vital Tool for Civic Engagement: How’s the Health of Your Local Newspaper?

This entry was contributed by Catherine Lazorko, on June 2nd, 2017 at 2:43 pm and is filed under Civic Education, Outreach Methods, Uncategorized.

As the local newspaper reporter for Chapel Hill, NC, periodically balanced an iPad with one hand, she took notes with the other. She was poised to receive the presentation, ask questions, and all the while, video the Town Manager as he explained his recommended budget to meet community goals – affordable housing, mobility infrastructure, and parental leave for employees.

She was the only media representative there. Joining her in the Town Hall conference room were the Town manager, business management director, communications manager and a communications specialist.

It has been a longtime practice to hold a media briefing before the recommended budget is presented to the Town Council. As a former newspaper reporter, I remember how difficult it was to put these detailed stories together on deadline. When I became a public information officer/communications manager for the Town of Chapel Hill, I decided to offer the briefings so that journalists have a face-to-face meeting to gain clarity with an opportunity to ask questions about the community’s annual budget.

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This entry was tagged with the following terms: Chapel Hill, Civic Engagement, civic journalism, Community Engagement, community journalism, local journalism, local journalists, local news, local news media, local newspapers, NC3C, News & Observer, pubic information, public information officers

Please Note…

This site welcomes a variety of viewpoints and perspectives on community engagement. Ideas shared here should not be considered as being endorsed by the UNC School of Government. The School is nonpartisan and policy-neutral.

Resources: School of Government

  • Public Participation
  • Guide for local government officials - public outreach and participation
  • Citizen Academies
  • International Association for Public Participation

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affordable housing Charlotte citizen engagement Citizen participation in local government Citizen trust Civic Engagement Civic participation collaboration community community development Community Engagement Community outreach dialogue Educating citizens empowerment Greensboro local government North Carolina social capital Social media

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