Where We Live: Register Citizen's New Newsroom Cafe
Coffee and citizen journalism in Torrington
The Torrington Register Citizen dates back to 1874 but this week, it took a big leap into the future.
The paper, which serves the old factory town, and the surrounding Litchfield Hills, had a pretty traditional relationship with its readers. Reporters and editors write stories and opinion pieces, the public sends in letters and emails.
But on Monday, that changed. The paper moved into a new space called the Newsroom Café – a place for community members to grab a coffee, chat with an editor about the latest breaking news, and learn how to become a trained news-gatherer themselves.
It’s one of many big ideas that newspapers are trying – as they attempt to stay competitive in a new digitial environment.
Today, we look at the interactive newsroom model. Is community engagement the secret to reviving the ailing industry of journalism?
We’ll talk to people at the Register Citizen who are making this big change – and with big media thinker Jeff Jarvis.
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Journalism has to get back to being part of its community...The public isn't just an audience, they are in fact collaborators.
Comments
I would really like to see
I would really like to see the Journal, Courant, etc. do this. Maybe partner with D&D, Starbucks, or even better a local coffee chain/shop to help fund these community newsrooms.
A formal, or at least polite decorum would be needed for people who decide to stop in, do their work, have a snack and coffee, talk to people, etc. To keep local news interesting and lively, keep it active and interactive.
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