Race Relations, Civic Journalism Project in Florida
Tallahassee Democrat executive editor Bob Gabordi writes:
On May 26, 1956, two Florida A&M students –Wilhelmina Jakes, 26, and Carrie Patterson, 20–were charged with “placing self into position to start a riotâ for repeating Parks’ action on a Tallahassee bus: They refused to give up their seats…
Now, 50 years later, Tallahassee community leaders are preparing to commemorate the events and heroes of those times…In May, we’ll publish one of our major projects for 2006: an examination not only of what happened in 1956, but also of the status of civil rights and race today.
Gabordi adds:
We want readers involved in the entire process of story development and reporting. Known as “civic journalism,” this approach really comes down to getting you involved throughout. If you have views on how to shape these stories or others, we’ll listen.
