Community journalism is focus of initiative

Kansas University’s School of Journalism is beginning a two-year initiative aimed at helping journalists better cover their communities.

The school is partnering with the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation in Maryland. Representatives from the Institute were in Lawrence this month.

Both the school and the institute have received $200,000 grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for the initiative.

They will create Web-based resources, including a community coverage handbook, information for journalism and newsroom trainers, and case studies of good community journalism.

KU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications also will hold three symposia to discuss the relationship between journalists and communities and the conditions for credible coverage.