What is even better is to educate the others involved about the value of shining a public light on all public matters. The community journalist must be an active, not passive, journalist. There are so many things going on that the community journalist may be tempted to allow the schedules and agendas of the community to control his or her own agenda. The only way the community journalist can be ahead of the pack is to associate with it but somehow stay just far enough off to the side to be able to see around it to glimpse what might lie ahead, while offering constructive suggestions, not sniping comments. Hindsight is easier, but foresight is better.
Cynicism is to be avoided at all costs.
A community journalist can have all the ability, compassion and integrity in the world, but those are of little value in the abstract. Community journalists must act, and not only in areas they enjoy but also in areas that they merely tolerate. For example, community journalists may enjoy college sports, but their bread and butter is in school and recreation league sports. Try them, you'll learn to love them, and your readers will love you for the effort. Local heroes are more interesting and relevant than professional heroes.