The document discusses the importance for journalists to understand the different layers of civic life in a community in order to properly contextualize stories. It identifies five specific layers - official, quasi-official, third places, incidental, and private - and notes that civic conversations will differ in purpose and nature across these layers. The document also lists different types of community leaders and seven keys to understanding a community that journalists should seek to learn about in order to accurately capture and report on issues important to that community.

1. Journalism and Community
“Tapping Civic Life”
Pew Center For Civic Journalism

2. Mapping a Community
“Journalists must know how to place stories
into a context, based on what matters in the
communities they serve.”
Getting the Whole Story, p. 70
“The difference between doing an interview and
tapping into civic conversations is the difference
between knocking on a family’s front door to ask a
few questions and seeking to sit in their living
room to understand their lives.”
Pew Center Workbook, p. 6

3. Two Layers of Civic Life
Official Layer
Administrative officials
Bureaucrats
Private Layer
Neighborhood leaders
Residents

4. More Specific Layers
1. Official
2. Quasi-official
3. Third places
4. Incidental
5. Private

5. Mapping Our Community
Officials
Ed Adams,
department chair

6. Quasi-official
Bobeta Powell,
administrative
assistant

7. Quasi-official
Stoker, beloved
associate professor

8. Third Places
Conversations
Atrium

9. Third Places
Post class
conversations

10. Incidental
Hallways

11. Incidental
Labs

12. Private
Homes, apartments,
private moments

13. What You Will Find
1. People are attracted to different layers
2. The purpose and nature of civic
conversations differ from layer to layer
3. “Unspoken Rules” shape civic places

14. What You Will Evaluate
There can be weaknesses within a layer
There can be gaps between layers

15. Types of Community
Leaders
Official
Civic
Connectors
Catalysts
Experts

16. Seven Knowledge Keys
Civic places
Sources
Sense of place
People
Issues of concern
Aspirations
Stereotypes to watch

17. Civic Conversation Tips
Take nothing at face value
Ask people to share their contradictions
Piece together what people are saying
and test it with them
Keep in mind the “unspoken” rules
Watch out for your preconceived views

18. Official
Quasi-official
Third places
Incidental
Private
Types of Community Leaders
Official
Civic
Connectors
Catalysts
Experts
Seven Knowledge Keys
Civic places
Sources
Sense of place
People
Issues of concern
Aspirations
Stereotypes to watch