We work with local residents – ‘citizen correspondents’ – who are passionate about learning core journalism skills (story pitching, writing, audio/podcast, and photography), to take part in our Bureau workshop series over a five-month period.
For 2025 and early 2026, we are focusing our efforts on working with Dayton-area students.
Image courtesy of Nick Hrkman
In weekly, 90-minute gatherings, citizen correspondents:
The weekly meetings see Journalism Lab staff work with students to think through and analyze your story proposals.
Our aim is to help you pitch ideas to newspapers, magazines and websites. (We are not a publishing platform). Completing at least one story idea and pitching it to a news outlet before our final workshop in March is our main goal for you.
No prior experience in journalism is necessary, but a curiosity about reporting and life in the Dayton area (meetings are currently open to residents of Greene, Miami, Montgomery and Preble counties) – as well as a commitment to attending all workshops – will help you get the most out of our program.
Over the course of seven to eight meetings (courses typically run from November to March, with additional support offered thereafter to participants whose stories have been commissioned), citizen correspondent can expect:
Check back soon to learn about our next Bureau workshop in 2025.