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Introduction

  • Page ID
    322379
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    Welcome to Digital Journalism for Communities!

    This textbook is unconventional, which I hope will be beneficial for anyone who seeks to achieve four key goals:

    Why writing? It's a fair question. While the odds of entering the professional world of journalism and only write are slim, the chances of never writing are equally small.

    Writing permeates all media, from videos and podcasts to TikTok reels. It is difficult to imagine an effective communicator who cannot write at all, even if their work is not traditionally accepted as "good writing." By "good writing," I mean the ability to convey clear ideas and images to readers/listeners through the use of precise language. We will use examples from across all media types, reflecting how media functions today. Everything we learn can be applied to the reporting and writing in any medium, with the necessary adjustments for each type.

    To summarize, we will think globally (across all media and places) but act locally (focusing on text-based coverage of specific communities).

    This is a remix of a textbook

    One of the most exciting aspects of this book is its multiple voice. While I contribute, only a minority of the text is mine. You will read chapters and sections from various authors and watch videos from other journalists. This approach is a "remix," much like a lot of modern music, and I believe this diversity is highly beneficial.

    If you are reading a print edition, those videos and key links will be accessible via QR codes throughout.

    Finally, you may have noticed this book is offered at the cost of free. This is because my institution, and many others represented here, are committed to affordable college learning. The technical term for a book like this is an Open Educational Resource (OER), meaning anyone who wants it can access it. Consequently, this book's production process differs slightly from a typical textbook. If you notice mistakes, have questions, or think something needs updating, please don't hesitate to contact me at mhumph18@jccc.edu.

    Let's get started.

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