COMMITMENT: Work locally to inform, engage public

Commitment 1: Work locally in a community to strengthen an informed, engaged public as the best hope for the future of democracy and civic life. This is our mission statement. This commitment will be at work every day in The Next Newsroom as journalists focus their effort to inform the public, strengthen civic life and grow citizen engagement in a community. Just as every community needs a good police force, a good utility company and good schools, so does a successful community need good journalism. The Next Newsroom will pledge to keep public officials accountable. The Next Newsroom will pledge to pursue reality checks on community projects and public policies. The Next newsroom will pledge to connect the dots between what occurs in the local community and events in the larger world.