Module 3

Community Reporting Networks


How to create, facilitate and sustain a talkative community.

All our videos include Closed Captions, British Sign Language, and full Transcriptions

Module Videos


3.0 - Introduction


Description

In the last module we talked through the 5Cs – Connectivity, Conviction, Confidence, Capacity and Craft. Now is the exciting part of exploring how we try to lower these barriers through establishing community reporter networks. In this next mini-series, we will talk through the process of setting up a community reporter network and the different building blocks that you can use in your own work.

3.1 - Recruitment


Description

Finding the right people to take part is more important than finding the ‘right number’ of people to take part.

Activity

Think about your network and the communities you work with – how might you go about recruiting people to take part in a community reporting project?

3.2 - Co-Design


Description

Co-design means involving the community in the design of a project. This gives you a really exciting chance to work together to create a shared mission.

Activity

Think about the projects you have delivered in the past – can you share an example of a particular moment or time when you worked together with a community to get their input into a project? What was the impact of the collaboration – did anything change as a result?

3.3 - Training


Description

There are many ways to deliver community reporter training but participants should feel excited and ready to get involved afterwards.

Here is a step-by-step on how to use video to train up your community in research and reporting skills.

Activity

If you were building a training course for the communities that you interact with – what different tools and training methods do you think would work best for them, and why?

3.4 - Mentoring


Description

Mentoring is one of the most important parts of a community reporting project. Building relationships is a crucial part of building confidence.

Activity

What do you think are the top 3 most important qualities of being a good mentor? List them below and explain why.

3.5 - Incentivisation and Engagement


Description

Incentives to take part in community reporting can vary depending on the project and organisation, but could include payment for time spent reporting, mobile phone top-ups, or the opportunity to learn and gain new skills.

Here is a guide for how to keep your community active and responsive over time.

Activity

Thinking through the different ideas for incentivising and encouraging engagement shared in this video – are there any which stand out that could work well in your own work? Or any ideas from past experience that you would like to add to the list?

3.6 - Co-production


Description

Co-production is one of the most creative and exciting aspects of a community reporting project. Co-production is when organisations and communities work together on stories that can have an impact.

Here is a step-by-step guide with some easy tools and tips for designing and publishing stories on social media.

Activity

Can you think of an inspiring piece of content that you have read, seen or heard recently that used some of the co-production values discussed in this video? It could be a film, blog, podcast… anything! Share it in the comments section below and explain why you found it powerful and engaging.

3.7 - Closing the Feedback Loop


Description

Every person taking part has the right to be told about what is happening to the information they are giving, where it is being seen and shared, and what will be happening as a result.

Here is a step-by-step guide for how to feedback to your communities.

If you are interested in building a community website, here is a step-by-step guide for how to use WordPress to create a showcase of stories that could be used to play them back to your community members but also to key stakeholders, and public audiences.

Activity

Think of three creative ideas for how you could close the feedback loop and share stories back with the community.

3.8 - Keeping Safe


Description

No story is ever more important than the safety of a reporter, or that of others in their community.

Activity

Think about the communities that you work with – are there any particular safeguarding risks you think would need to be addressed to keep them safe? How would you mitigate those risks?

3.9 - Project spotlight: Beyond the Bite


Description

Beyond the Bite is a national reporting system in Sierra Leone for sharing community knowledge about Malaria.

Activity

Explore the Road to Recovery web-documentary with films shot on mobile phones and edited by community reporters in Sierra Leone highlighting the challenges they face in accessing healthcare.

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