Centre forCommunity Journalism

2015 Annual Review

· Trained nearly 15,000 online from 130 countries

· Taught over 300 face-to-facethroughout Wales

· Over 160 people attended our biennial conference

· Worked with: BBC, Welsh Government, Nesta,National Eisteddfod of Wales, FutureLearn, National

Assembly of Wales, NUJ Training Wales

· Media coverage from: The Guardian, Nieman Lab,BBC Radio Cymru, Journalism.co.uk, BBC World

Service, BBC Wales online

· Commissioned a landmark report on hyperlocalnews in the UK, in partnership with Nesta

2015: the headlines

The story so far...The Centre for Community Journalism isone of Cardiff University's TransformingCommunities Engagement Projects. Weare working with communities acrossWales to create or improve tencommunity news services by 2018. Bythe end of this year, we will have workedwith seven community news groups intotal.

Based in Cardiff University's prestigiousSchool of Journalism, Media and CulturalStudies, we provide expert training andadvice to community journalists, bothonline and face-to-face. We work withresearchers within the School to applytheir findings about communityjournalism to strengthen and inform ourgrassroots action. We are strong voicefor the sector, and this year we haveadvocated for it in discussions withorganisations such as the BBC and thePress Recognition Panel.We also provide a space for discussionand amplify best practice examples.

Outstanding contribution to the communityCardiff University Celebrating Excellence Awards

Winner

What's next forcommunity journalism?

Dan Gillmor

On Wednesday 9 September 2015, over 160 peoplecame together to discuss the future of communityjournalism. The event was held in partnership withNesta and tickets were free of charge. It is estimatedthat a third of the attendees were communityjournalists themsleves.

The day was led by keynote speaker DanGillmor, Professor of Practice, Walter Cronkite Schoolof Journalism and Mass Communication at ArizonaState University, and Faculty Associate, HarvardBerkman Centre for Internet & Society.

Over 30 speakers contributed to theconference, showcasing the innovative work beingundertaken by community journalists across the UK inareas such as data journalism, crowdfunding andpartnership building.

For those who couldn't make it, they could follow theaction through the hashtag #CJ15 on Twitter andPeriscope. On 9 September alone, the Centre forCommunity Journalism's Twitter account (@C4CJ)earned 53,300 impressions.

"Cardiff University's Centre for CommunityJournalism is doing great work to help us navigatethrough the roughest media seas we've seen indecades. The conference in September wasinspiring, not because it produced a solution - we'retoo early for that - but because it gathered smart,energetic people who are determined to provideessential information for their communities, and whoare experimenting with innovative ways to do it."

Carys Jones, Cadi Newbery and Catrin Evans, National Eisteddfod of Wales

"Digidol ar Daith was an invaluable source of learning to us, as anorganisation and as individuals. The course taught us new skills andtools which have enabled us to move forward with our social mediaengagement. It has given us confidence to progress and extend ournetworks and communicate effectively with our different audiences."

Digidol ar DaithDigidol ar Daith (Digital on Tour) is a trainingprogramme funded by Welsh Government anddelivered by the Centre for Community Journalism inpartnership with Golwg. It aimed to improve digital andsocial media skills for creating and sharing news online through theWelsh language. Training workshops were held in 12 locations across the length andbreadth of Wales, from Llandeilo to Llangefni. Hundreds of peopleattended the sessions, ranging from interested individuals torepresentatives of major organisations such as National Museum Wales.Many traditional Welsh community groups also attended, includingPapurau Bro (community newspapers), Merched y Wawr (a women'sorganisation) and Ffermwyr Ifanc (Young Farmers).

Skills covered in the course included:How to create and share imagesHow to set up your own Wordpress siteBasic journalism skillsOnline writing in the Welsh language

"Digidol ar Daith was an invaluable source of learning to us, as anorganisation and as individuals. The ourse taught us new skills and toolswhich have enabled us to move forward with our social mediaengagement. It has given us confidence to progress and extend ournetworks and communicate effectively with our different audiences."Carys Jones, Cadi Newbury & Catrin Evans, National Eisteddfod of Wales

Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media

"I learned about social media engagement tools andanalytics that I have since used in my personal andprofessional life.

The educators are great and always provide extrauseful information. I recommend it to everyoneinterested in social media and journalism."

"I live in Pakistan and I'm ahousewife. I wanted to

become a journalist butthis wish I couldn’t fulfil,

but this is a greatopportunity for me…"

Following its successful launch in 2014, the CommunityJournalism MOOC returned in March 2015.

On its second run, the course attracted 65% morelearners than its maiden voyage, making it the largestjournalism MOOC run by a UK university.

Professor Richard Sambrook took the helm again, andthe course included new tutorials on topics such ascrowdfunding, diasporic media and data journalism.

Community news sites such as the Grimsby Spotlightwere established as a direct result of the second run ofthe MOOC, and feedback from learners was incrediblypositive: 93% said the course was 'Good' or 'Excellent".

Lucio Albenga, Software Developer

Over14,000

learners

130 countriesworldwide

15,000 +comments

Community news servicesin Wales

"We are very grateful to the team at the Centre for Community Journalismfor all their work in helping us set up Pobl Dinefwr. It has been invaluable.We have resurected the Eisteddfod Appeal Committees across the Countythey now provide community news from their areas which works very well.We're delighted to be able to offer this service to our community."

Owain Gruffydd, Menter Iaith Dinefwr

We have been working hands on with five community news hubs witha variety of different needs and audiences.

Our pilot news hub Pobl Caerdydd is going from strength to strengthwith an engaged audience and regular contributions from citizensacross the city. Rhondda People is continuing to grow an audienceon social media and is building relationships with local groups andorganisations. Our ongoing work with Menter Iaith Dinefwr, followingLlais y Maes at the Carmarthenshire Eisteddfod 2014, resulted in thelaunch of Pobl Dinefwr. The Port Talbot Magnet publication wasalready established but needed support moving forward. We held apublic event, which raised awareness and generated volunteer staffwho now work with the team on a weekly basis.

We have also started supporting Grangetown Community News, whichwas established in 1978 and is run by a team of volunteers in a Cardiffsuburb.

Llais y Maes 20152015 marked the final year of the student runnews service, Llais y Maes, which provides analternative view of the National Eisteddfod ofWales. The seven=strong team experimentedwith new social media platforms includingPeriscope and Social Shorthand.

This year's cohort have gone on to achievehighly, with one student now employed byArchant while another is applying for thepostgraduate Broadcast Diploma at CardiffUniversity. There are also plans for a localorganisation, Menter Iaith Maldwyn, to set up acommunity news site as a legacy of the project.

· Coverage from BBC Wales, ITV Walesand Hold the Front Page· Interviews with the First Minister CarwynJones, BBC Controller Rhodri Talfan andTV personality Alex Jones (pictured)· 100 reports· 66,900 Twitter impressions

Key highlights

"Thank you for the opportunity to be part of Llais yMaes, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience andlearned a huge amount. Thanks again for anincredible week."

Hannah Pearce, Cardiff University student

Networking andadvice

"Particularly good guide from @C4CJ for beginnerson live video streaming from your smartphoneusing Periscope and Meerkat."

Our website, social media channels andnewsletter provide daily, weekly and monthlydiscussion on the community news sector. Thisyear we have covered a range of issues from opendata to how to leave a legacy for your communitynews site. We have also provided breaking newsand comment on developments such as pressregulation and BBC collaboration.

· Over 3,900 Twitter followers and 105,000impressions on average per month· Social media engagement from influentialmedia commentators and users including NiemanLab, the British Library and Crowdfunder UK· Recommendations from other media newslettersincluding the Local Fix and Media Mill· 58 blog posts published throughout the year fromcommunity journalists, academics and supportingorganisations such as Carnegie UK Trust andNational Association of Local Councils

Huw Pritchard, Manager, Business Wales

Key statistics from 2015:

Encouraging democraticengagementDemocratic engagement is always important, but especially so in theyear of the General Election. We created the 'Guide to covering theGeneral Election for community journalists in Wales', in partnershipwith Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre, whichencompassed a wide range of advice and information - from stayingon the right side of the law to contacting your local candidates.

We also provided comprehensive coverage on how communityjournalists across the UK were covering the General Election, providingbest practice case studies on hustings, collaboration with mainstreammedia and social media engagement.

We partnered with the National Assembly of Wales and GlyndwrUniversity to host a Senedd Hyperlocal News Day in North Wales, inwhich Dame Rosemary Butler addressed local community journalistson their role in countering democratic deficit.

"Thanks for your superb round-up on ways communityjournalists have covered the General Election. Lots of ideas andinspiration for the next one!"

Jamie Summerfield, A Little Bit of Stone

Flickr: Coventry Council

Advocacy andstakeholderengagementThe Centre for Community Journalism provides a voicefor the community news sector, working with and forjournalists to make their case to key stakeholders.

In 2015, C4CJ joined the BBC's Local JournalismWorking Group alongside major players in mainstreamnews including Trinity Mirror and Johnston Press, aswell as supporting organisations including Nesta andCarnegie UK Trust. We are working with our colleaguesto ensure positive developments such as the BBC'sLocal Live scheme sufficiently benefit the communityjournalism sector.

We have also attended key briefings by the PressRecognition Panel, providing commentary on theoutcomes for community journalists through ourwebsite. In a similar vein, we have hosted blog posts byIMPRESS on their efforts to regulate the communitynews sector.

"The work carried out by the Centre forCommunity Journalism at the NationalEisteddfod this year was excellent. Partnershipslike this are very important to us, particularly asleaving a legacy in communities is an importantpart of our strategy."

Gwenllian Carr, National Eisteddfod of Wales

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Discover the latest news, advice and opinion oncommunity journalism

How can youget involved?

Follow @C4CJ · Visit: communityjournalism.co.ukSearch 'C4CJ' on YouTube

Visit: communityjournalism.co.uk/research

Email: meesee@cardiff.ac.uk

Email: scarbroughh1@cardiff.ac.uk

Visit: communityjournalism.co.uk/find-a-hyperlocalEmail: scarbroughh1@cardiff.ac.uk

Visit: communityjournalism.co.uk/blog

029 208 70101

@C4CJ

communityjournalism.co.uk

Visit: communityjournalism.co.uk/training

Email: meesee@cardiff.ac.uk

Discover what's going on in your area by locating your community newsservice using our map, or register your own site.

If you have advice or a community journalism success story to share, makeyour voice heard by writing a guest blog post.

Find out more about our free training for community journalists and ourbespoke commercial training for organisations and institutions.

Have a partnership opportunity you think we should know about? Get in touch.

We work with some of the leading UK researchers in this sector, as well asgenerating our own rich data and insights. Find out more.

Thank youLots of people provide vital support and guidance forthe Centre for Community Journalism. We would like tothank the members of our Steering Group: ProfessorRichard Sambrook, Dr Andy Williams, Professor IanHargreaves. Lynnette Thomas and academic lead forthe project, Professor Justin Lewis.

We would also like to say a special thank you to SaraMoseley, who left the project this year to take up a roleas Director of Mind Cymru. Sara was a key member ofthe Centre for Community Journalism team and weappreciate all of her work on the project and wish her allthe best at Mind Cymru. Thank you Sara!

"I was delighted when I had the opportunity to come toCardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media andCultural Studies on secondment to develop newinitiatives, including the Centre for CommunityJournalism, in 2013. And I have loved it. I very much hopethat C4CJ can play a central role in supporting journalistsin the future."

Sara Moseley, Director of Mind Cymru