Steve Volk started covering the child welfare system by happenstance.
“I was deeply interested in working for Resolve Philly, a journalism collaborative and reform organization,” he told me via email. “In late 2019, they asked me if I’d be interested in covering foster care for a year. I said ‘Sure’ with total clarity on what it would be like to carry on Resolve’s mission and no real clue on how important this subject really was or the barriers I’d face. I quickly realized I’d be on this beat for much longer than 12 months — and look, I’m still here.”
Volk and Resolve Philly have partnered with Poynter and my colleague Fernanda Camarena to train journalists in 25 newsrooms to better cover the child welfare system. The virtual workshops, which are funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, meet six times and aim to train two people from each newsroom.
They’re also free.
“This course will help newsrooms initiate, change and expand their coverage of child welfare and foster care,” said Camarena. “If your organization doesn’t have a great handle on how to cover this topic, it’s a great program for you.”
People chosen for the training will learn how to cover key topics in foster care and how to overcome the challenges involved with covering this important and complicated system, Volk said.
And the biggest mistake journalists make — “Not covering it. Considering it niche and low impact, or only to be covered in the wake of tragedy,” Volk said. “The system grinds on daily, and it needs to be covered on a regular basis.”
“This program is perfect if you’re looking to be a more intentional and thoughtful journalist," Camarena said. “You’ll learn how to handle vulnerable sources with care, navigate complicated systems, and hold people and agencies accountable. It’ll also help you move beyond chasing sensationalist headlines to tell deeper, more meaningful stories. If your newsroom is serious about serving its audience, this is a chance to evaluate how you’re covering these issues and find ways to do it better.”
You can learn more about this important work and apply here.
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