Pushing for Social Change: How Collaborations are Recalibrating the Journalistic Mission

Abstract

ABSTRACT This qualitative study examines the extent to which journalistic collaborations involving non-journalistic partners may be altering the overall mission of the field. Drawing from literature on boundaries, as well as reciprocal or networked approaches to journalism, the study uses ethnographic methods, in-depth interviews and textual analysis to examine two diverse collaborative efforts: the Dallas Media Collaborative in Dallas, Texas, and the Credible Messenger Reporting Project in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These collaborations involve a broad array of partners—including legacy and non-legacy media, citizen journalists, universities, creative groups, think tanks, and nonprofits. The findings provide evidence that non-journalistic partners play a critical role in trying to better connect these efforts with the communities they cover; these new partners are also working to expand the definition of what constitutes journalism and seeking to make journalism more of a reciprocal conversation with diverse publics. Furthermore, the findings suggest non-journalistic partners are helping to recalibrate the journalistic mission in such a way that its primary goal is not just informing the public, but giving citizens more input into the journalistic conversation while empowering them with tools to effect social change.