Perhaps the phenomenon is more accentuated in France, but many journalists tend to be removed from the reality and the lives of inhabitants in lower-income neighborhoods and localities.

In order to improve the relationship between journalists and the inhabitants, Jérôme Bouvier, president of the association Journalism and citizenship, launched a participatory site in January, entitled Vudesquartiers.journalisme.com.

Literally translated, “Vu des quartiers” means ‘seen from the neighborhood’ (in this case, ‘neighborhood’ carries some of the negative connotations of ghettos). The site aims to unite professional journalists and local inhabitants to jointly produce news coverage.

The goal of the project is both to reestablish some public trust in the work of journalists, but also to get reporters to work closely with the people they cover.

About sixty professional journalists have already signed up for the site, and have formed duets with local citizen reporters. The citizens decide on the topics to cover, and also are considered as the writers of the reports. The professionals serve as helpers during the process.

A large number of inhabitants in these low-income “have the feeling that French society see them negatively or doesn’t know how to see them,” said Bouvier, and journalists are partly to blame for this.

Bouvier hopes that coverage produced by “Vu des quartiers” will be used by traditional media outlets that partner the project, including France Inter which should participate. The operation lasts until March 16, the day of the second round of the upcoming municipal elections.

Source: Le Monde (link in French)