Community News
Community journalism is intimate, caring and personal. It reflects the community and tells its stories.
The news is local so you most likely already know the people you’re talking about and who you’re talking to. These stories are from your own community. You are setting the news agenda, in deciding what news you will cover and what you think is important.
But even though it’s local, the stories may well have broader significance; the story you produce might be shared with other First Nations media organisations across the country.
News Gathering
When you hear of a story that you think may be worthy of investigating , always research the topic before starting to make formal enquiries.
- People. Look up their names and positions on the internet, using a web site search engine, or Facebook, or Linked in. You may also know people who know them, so talk to them discretely to find out more. This will give you a sense of their background, expertise, community standing, etc so that you can better plan your interview when you speak to them.
- Organisation. Most organisations connected to a news story will have their own website or social media page. A visit here will cut back on a lot of questions you may otherwise have to ask, so that you understand the context of the story.
- Subject matter. The story may concern subject that you are not completely familiar with – eg scientific, medical, legal, education. Again, researching using the internet will give you an understanding of the subject area.
- Location. Some areas you will know, but using Google maps (Street view) will give you a better sense of where the story is located.
Cultural sensitivity
In creating news stories with first first nations people, it is vital that you are aware of the cultural sensitivities that apply.
- If the News Story contains the image, voice or name of a deceased person/s, you must ensure and provide evidence that the relevant permissions are sought and warnings are included in the news story as may be required under any customary laws or traditions.
- There are sites that are sacred, so these may not be permitted to be photographed or filmed.
- Ensure you speak to the appropriate people with cultural authority when discussing Indigenous Elements. You should not assume that every Indigenous person has cultural authority within the community to speak about a matter. You must have the consent of that person before proceeding with the story.
For more about this, visit the sites listed below: