People watch because they are hungry for the information that affects their lives, they watch in numbers large enough to beat the entertainment offerings on the other network-affiliated stations. Civic journalism builds on these values, innovates in their application and seeks ways to reinvigorate them. It does not seek to supplant them with some new or trendy formula. It is a reaffirmation of traditional principles. The first habit many journalists follow when framing a story is to find conflict.
Conflict is the chief ingredient of so much news coverage.
Republicans versus Democrats, Dole versus Clinton, Serbs against Croats. Conflict is an element in drama. Shakespeare's plays all are based on conflict. Some journalists feel they have to dramatize the news. Another journalistic habit is there are two sides to every story.