Your community needs watchdogs: A beginner’s path to citizen journalism

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Complete Colorado

People frequently ask me about the writing I do on the side at my substack, Colorado Accountability Project.  One way or another they want to get involved and contribute. They’re often frustrated with how their local media operates and want to start their own local political news operation. They have extra time and want to put it to use looking into where our tax money goes, hold their elected officials accountable, etc.

I’m glad to answer questions like these. Part of the reason I started, and devote so much time to my substack, as well as my Facebook page, is to encourage other people to get involved.  But as I’ve watched people flash up and just as quickly flash out, I think that I need to start including a speech similar to the one that the coach in the movie “Rudy” gives to a group of hopeful walk-on football players: “so if any of you has any fantasies of running out of that stadium tunnel with your gold helmet shining in the sun, you best leave them right here.”

Doing the work

The plain unvarnished truth is that being a citizen journalist and setting up an operation like mine is work, plenty of thankless work.

I’ll skip a lot of detail and simply say that I started my writing during COVID as a way to try and reach regular people who I figured could be convinced to get involved, because my efforts to advocate to the legislature weren’t going anywhere.  As time has gone by, I’ve added to that original conception, but the main point I want to make here is the “during COVID” part.

That means it’s been about five and a half years of consistent effort, working mostly without anything in the way of notice or praise.  It’s really only now that I have anything like a consistent readership, and frankly that depends on the day of the week and weather forecast.

Anyone who wants to do what I’ve done, what Brandon Wark has done at Free State Colorado, what Karen Morgan has done with the Lakewood Observer, or what the folks at High Country Advocate have done will need to reckon with this reality.  Renown may be in the cards for you, but it’s far more likely that you will develop a decent-sized readership and be known mainly among politicos and locals from the community you cover.

The case for citizen journalism

This doesn’t mean that starting your own site will have no value.  You are needed, and your contribution can make a tangible difference.  If you feel moved to get involved by writing or doing videos/audio, if you feel you have a talent for either, your work will add to the health of your local community and the state.

READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT COMPLETE COLORADO