Five CitJ Tips to Get You Out of the House

I'll admit it, I'm a geek. I spend way too much time in front of my computer and I don't get out nearly enough -- which is really a shame, since I live in such a wonderful town with lots to do (Boulder, CO).

Yes, I sometimes feel a bit too isolated and inactive. And yes, I know it's my own fault. Fortunately, citizen journalism offers a good solution to that problem. I can use it as both an excuse and a motivation to get out and about in my community. Whether I post coverage to one of my own blogs, to a discussion forum or message board, or to local news sites (such as the Rocky Mountain News site YourHub.com), there's always some easy and appropriate venue for my volunteer news coverage.

Here are five ways you can use citizen journalism to get your butt out of your house...

1. Cover a public talk or lecture. I just did this today. Last night I attended a talk by two authors at the Boulder Bookstore. The event was great, even though the weather was uncharacteristically Arctic. Today I posted an article to YourHub about the event, putting the topic into current local and national context. (That's the added-value part which I think is crucial to good citizen journalism.) See my article: "Cohousing: What Makes "Quality of Life?"
2. Build a "beat." The "beat" (a topic on which a reporter focuses and covers over time, like sports or the environment) is crucial to the practice of journalism in  news organizations. However, it also can apply to citizen journalism. For instance, I'm very interested in land use and community development issues -- two hot topics in Boulder. So I'm finding ways to attend more meetings, and to meet and speak with the people most closely involved with those efforts in Boulder and around Colorado. For me, it helps to have the goal in mind of producing news stories, interviews, and analysis. That creates more focus and motivation, which is more likely to get me out the door and sticking my face in front of people. Also, developing a beat makes you a "known quantity" in your community, which makes it easier to get good interviews and good tips.
3. Meet interesting people. Do you have a favorite local store, pub, charity, or restaurant? Why not profile the owner or staff? Almost everybody has a story to tell. If you record a half-hour discussion (with the subject's permission, of course), chances are you'll end up with a few paragraphs of memorable quotes. (And that's all you need -- good excerpts, not the full transcript.) Take some digital photos, too. It's only awkward asking for interviews the first few times. There's nothing wrong with practicing on some interesting people you know -- just be sure to disclose that, for the sake of transparency.
4. Review concerts, plays, films, and dance performances. Again, look at Boulder. This town has a great music scene, with several venues booked year-round plus numerous festivals. However, when it comes to covering music most of my local news organizations run promotional interviews -- not reviews. Personally, I think reviews are uniquely valuable. When I'm contemplating whether to spend the money to go see a band, I look to see what the reviews are like for their recent performances elsewhere. Reviews as citizen journalism probably won't get you free tickets, but again it can be a motivation to get out of the house.
5. Comparison quest. Which local Mexican restaurant makes the best margarita? Which local church has the best choir? Which seats in a local theater offer the best acoustics? Which houses in your town feature the tackiest Christmas light displays? Which public playground does your three-year-old prefer? Define your own quest, and make it fun and unique. Involve your friends. This can be the source of a single article, or an ongoing series. In fact, an ongoing series may garner you a loyal following.