Community journalism in Cardiff and some tips on participation

Hyperlocal issues are looming large for us this week as we prepare for the Community Journalism Conference in Cardiff tomorrow.

I shall be there and, together with Glyn Mottershead from the uni, will be running a workshop at 10am on How to set up HyperLocal platforms, open source sites and using multi platforms.

If you’re going, I look forward to seeing you there, if you’re not – I will blog from the day here and have also set up this noticeboard, CommunityJournalism.n0tice.com, to capture tweets, pics and whatever else happens to make it easier to follow. The hashtag for the event is #CJC13.

On the subject of community publishing, I have today published the latest installment in the ‘making a hyperlocal’ series which is intended to help people starting out on an independent publishing path.

For that post I asked various experts, ie. people who successfully run publications to offer their top tips for encouraging participation in a new venture.

One of those was Emma Bearman who runs The Culture Vulture in northern England who offered this advice which I’ll also share here:

Starting out?
Just Do it, set up a blog, audioboo, twitter etc, ask for help
Use it as your license to indulge your inquisitive curious mind
If you can’t be the source, be the resource. By which I mean if you aren’t brilliant at writing/editing etc then shine a light on others, curate, connect, be generous
Be in and part of the conversation
Make connections with the local university journalism course heads and tutors that really get it
Be guided by your moral compass
Love what you do. No point if it ceases to interest or delight you. Don’t let your blog be a monkey on your back
Be open, kind and compassionate. (those are my own mantra)
See the bigger picture
Take time to check your facts, don’t be a kneejerker
Try to leave your ego at the door.

Agree? Something more to add? It would be great to hear your top tips too.