Members of the public can have high expectations when they get involved in the news media. For example, they might believe that sharing their story will bring them fame or fortune or lead to a swift reversal of a miscarriage of justice.
It is important to be as clear as possible about the risks and rewards of co-creating content. Together, you might change someone’s life; but you might also involve them in a lot of work that doesn’t have the desired result.
Tips
- Ensure that participants understand what they are getting into when you work together on content, particularly when it is highly personal.
- Avoid overloading participants. Creating content – particularly if it is deeply relevant to people’s lives – can be emotionally draining. Are you supporting participants to make sure their involvement is sustainable?
- Tailor the depth of co-creation to the project. Make sure that the burden on participants is proportionate to their benefit from being involved - and be honest if you can’t guarantee all the benefits.
Example
- Greater Govanhill Magazine has opened a community newsroom, where members of the community can drop in to discuss issues and build good working relationships with local journalists.
