Nourishing Grassroots Journalism for a Global Community

Community – Who would have thought we would ever live in a world where the word community was difficult to define? I believe that in this globalized society, community means connection. At The Press Institute for Women in the Developing World, an international nonprofit organization and independent journalism initiative, we strive to produce news content on subjects that connect people everywhere, even people who live worlds apart. We approach news from the standpoint of a worldwide community. . .

 

. . . Our news focuses on six core issues that are of great importance to people everywhere: HIV/AIDS, violence against women, poverty, reproductive rights, political oppression and community development. The beauty of our program and the stories we tell is that they come from a local, community point of view, but they speak to problems and issues that people face worldwide. For us, community means telling stories of local importance to a global audience. We can no longer afford to think of community in terms of geography. 

Again, I will use the example of The Press Institute. While the content our newly trained reporters produce is disseminated internationally on our bilingual newswire, the stories are also circulated within their communities. We believe that honest, thorough journalism can transform the way physical communities live, work and deal with important issues. We utilize both digital media services (like the online newswire) and old-fashioned community-relations techniques. For example, in addition to our journalism-training program, we also offer free literacy services in each community where we operate. We believe that by enhancing the ethical quality and technical caliber of community news we are providing a great service. But what good is great journalism in communities where illiteracy rates are high and social resignation is higher? We believe that education, independent media and communications will truly allow people to live freer, fuller lives. Most interesting in our work in Mexico has been the community’s reaction to our independent coverage of issues and events. In a place where media is either government-owned or proudly skewed, it has been interesting and rewarding to see how true “journalism” can shape and enhance community dialogue.   

I hope to attend the 2007 We Media conference in order to discuss and learn about the core issues of community and investment. As a nonprofit independent journalism program, we are constantly struggling to strengthen communities through ethical, valuable news coverage while also figuring out how to remain independent and create and new and sustainable market for grassroots journalism.  

 Cristi Hegranes   

President, Founder

The Press Institute for Women in the Developing World