On October 27, 2012, there was a meeting of members of the blog “Friends of Januária.” It was the first official meeting after the end of the course that happened in September and October 2011.

River São Francisco – City Januária-MG – Brazil

The meeting was aimed to know and train three new citizen reporters, winners of the campaign “Be A Citizen Reporter” launched the site in September 2012. Moreover, there was the training of new members and of course the use of journalistic techniques and blog with other journalists.

The meeting was supported by the NGO International Rising Voices, which paid for the “citizen reporters kits” for new members, plus materials needed for the meeting and future reports.

Material Citizen Reporter

Throughout the event were discussed numerous issues related to the blog, reporting techniques, history and future of the project, presentation of journalists, discussion guidelines, restructuring and defining tasks and other activities. At the end of a snack was served to all present.

Since the project “Friends of Januária” which happened in 2011, much has changed, the blog grew, new players have emerged, our increased presence on social networks and news reports increasingly gained credibility among the population. However, over time (2011-2012), some members left the site, but with the campaign for new members, could fill a very important gap in the project, the continuity of materials. The new journalists who now join the group were very well chosen and their stories can already be seen in www.amigosdejanuaria.wordpress.com address.

On the occasion of the meeting of members of the blog, also marked a new day for study returned editing photos and videos. The intention is that the meeting be fruitful both for learning and for the strengthening of the group. Soon be possible to give more in a matter as was the second meeting with the staff of the “Friends of Januária.”

The citizen journalism project “Friends of Januária” began in September and October 2011. Conceived by journalists Amanda Rossi and Jamila Venturini, the project received support from various agencies around the world such as the Association of Friends Januária (ASAJAN) founded by journalist Fábio Oliva (also the project coordinator and instructor), the international organization Rising Voices where our funding came from. There was also support from the NGO Article 19, E. E. Olegario Maciel (provided space for meetings) and more than 80 people who contributed through crowdfunding platform Catharsis.

Course – 2011

During the course of civic education workshops, youth from the city of Januária-MG learned to create and update blogs, write newspaper articles, access online data on public budgets, make information requests, work on social networks in order to inform the population. Besides recording videos throughout the city, the citizen journalists took photos, wrote journals, and made several reports that can be viewed via our blog: www.amigosdejanuaria.wordpress.com.

Now with a year of existence, the “Friends of Januária” has started to expand, relying on an increasing number of readers. In September (our anniversary month of the blog) many activities were held, such as the addition of two new members of the blog (new reporters), commemorative banner on facebook, special articles, and additional complete coverage of the municipal elections that took place in Brazil in 2012.

The purpose of the group “Friends of Januária” is to get more people to inform themselves and by teaching young people ways to monitor the municipal administration of their city. Through a partnership with the International NGO Rising Voices, during the month of September, some stories about the city Januária-MG were highlighted, such as: “Information on the politicians of our city“, “Beauty is not a sign of health,” “Interview with the mayoral candidates” and other reports on the council.

In October, we talked about the reality of the city through the text “Januária, the sun must be born again“, we showed the “Results of Election 2012“, we also analyzed the “ Election” even in neighboring counties. We also informed the public about the need to “Supervise the Elected Politicians“, giving tips on sites and places to get important information for these four years in office.

The numerous materials made by reporters show interest in the fight to access information for all people and show the maturity gained by young people beyond the developments that texts can generate. However, much is still to come, the “Friends of Januária” will continue its work in the coming months and will hold a meeting with members of the site where workshops will take place to improve the technical reports, the addition of two new young reporters, and other activities related to the project's continuity.

To find out this whole process, just follow our blog (www.amigosdejanuaria.wordpress.com) or stay tuned on our social networks (facebook and twitter).