Pathways to Engagement

One technique from the article that I think could be helpful in Philadelphia is what is brought forward in New Voices:New Jersey. This techniques brings together newsrooms with local activists, faith leaders, and union members in order to discuss pressing issues in the area. I think this would greatly help Philadelphia. As the guest speaker discussed last Tuesday, it is important that newsrooms and journalists engage the community not just for stories, but to help that community. This idea could improve by something as simple as just listening to what different members of the community have to say about the issues going on in the community.

Another idea that would greatly help Philadelphia on the topics of addiction and recovery is inclusion. This would involve giving voices to people that are normally left out of the conversation, such as poor communities, and people of color. People in neighborhoods like Kensington should be able to voice their opinion, and be heard by people that are looking to help. I think this idea of inclusion would go a long way in engaging the community in Philadelphia.

Lawrence O'Connor

Larry O'Connor is a senior journalism major, with a focus on sports reporting and writing. Since coming to Temple, Larry has worked with Temple Update's SportsDesk as a football and basketball beat writer. This includes weekly stories, gameday coverage, and multimedia coverage before and after every game. While Larry has not been affected by addiction personally, he has seen what it does to individuals and communities and would like to learn more about it, in an attempt to educate himself and to educate others. Contact Larry at [email protected].