January 17, 2016 // What does it mean to listen before a story is written?
In collaboration with Flux, the award-winning magazine produced by students at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, the Agora Journalism Center helped develop a storytelling process rooted in community voice and accountability.
This pilot project tested a new approach by holding listening sessions both before reporting began and after the magazine was produced. Community members were invited to shape the editorial direction and respond to the representation of their stories.
Purpose
Frequently, communities are only “consulted” after publication. We aimed to reverse this dynamic by treating community members as collaborators in the editorial process rather than merely as subjects. Our goals were to:
- Surface story ideas grounded in lived experience
- Build trust between journalists and community participants
- Offer feedback loops to ensure representation and accuracy
- Model a replicable framework for listening-driven storytelling in student media
The Listening Sessions
- Session 1: Pre-Reporting Conversation
Before student journalists began their work, we hosted a facilitated session with community members to identify the themes, stories, and concerns most important to them. These insights shaped the reporting focus, including story angles and source outreach. - Session 2: Post-Publication Review
After the magazine was completed, we invited participants to reflect on the final product. We asked what aspects were effective, what was missing, and what could be improved in future iterations.
These conversations fostered deeper reflection and accountability, transforming the student publication into a learning experience focused on journalistic responsibility.
What We Learned
- Listening builds buy-in and trust—even in a classroom setting
- Story ideas generated from community input resulted in more authentic and resonant narratives.
- Feedback after publishing was just as important as input before
- Students left with a deeper understanding of ethical journalism and relational accountability
This collaboration with Flux continues to inform Agora’s vision for participatory journalism, in which community members are not only seen or quoted but also heard, respected, and engaged throughout the process.