Great article by Doug McGill where he taught the basics of journalistic story structure, ethics and practices to about a hundred people like you and I (school teachers, government workers, not-for-profit types, retired people, students and many others). I think that he’s now a strong believer in social journalists.

Here’s what he learned:

1. Citizens are an untapped source of expertise and positive civic energy that journalists can help unlock.

2. There is no substitute for a strong, independent, institutional journalism.

3. Citizens can help journalists reconnect to the wellsprings of their craft.

4. Journalists need to learn citizenship skills, as much as citizens need to learn journalism.

5. A good citizen journalism class, like a great newspaper, allows for all types of expression — artistic, poetic, literary, photographic, musical, comical and fun.

6. Citizens create vital community consciousness through the discipline of writing journalistically.

7. I’m the one who needs to change. (Change is welcome, adapting smartly is the challenge).