Author

Jan Schaffer

@janjlab

Jan Schaffer is executive director of J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism at the University of Maryland. She was a reporter and editor for 25 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she was a key part of the team of reporters that won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Tips About Starting a Hyperlocal Web Site

For those seeking to venture into the hyperlocal sphere—whether affiliated with a news organization or not—we’ve developed tips through observation and study. —J.S.1. Get ready for a high-touch experience: Citizen…
December 15, 2007

When Community Residents Commit ‘Random Acts of Journalism’

‘In communities with little news coverage, people are using the Web to restore a sense of place.’
December 15, 2007

Citizens Media: Has It Reached a Tipping Point?

New media initiatives emerge when citizens feel ‘shortchanged, bereft or angered by their available media choices.’
December 15, 2005

Reporting on Race: Building a New Definition of ‘News’

A report on race reporting by civic journalists highlights some common approaches.
September 15, 2003