Citizens and journalists can benefit from contact with journalists' organizations. In addition to promoting best practices and boosting morale, these groups routinely reach out to readers, listeners and viewers in their coverage areas. In programs open to the public, they help explain how the news business works and how to approach news organizations about coverage, fairness and other issues. Many journalism groups list local chapters on their national websites. These include the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors (click on "Find an Investigative Reporter" if you're looking for one!).
 
Some television and radio stations, commercial and non-commercial, sponsor citizens' advisory boards that allow concerned viewers and listeners to weigh in about coverage. Increasing numbers of newspapers employ ombudsmen, public editors or reader representatives to handle your concerns and welcome thoughtful criticism about content. They can be allies in your effort to direct coverage to issues you believe are under-reported. Some papers have taken the additional step of creating groups of readers to consult about a variety of issues including polling and accuracy. One example of this is the Associated Press Managing Editors' National Credibility Roundtables. At APME's 2004 convention in Louisville, Kentucky, eight "embedded readers" drawn from these roundtables throughout the country addressed editors about what they’re doing wrong – and right. You can read more about this project – and about how to get involved – at www.apme-credibility.org/index.html.
 
Several of these exist with the mission of monitoring the news media for bias or other perceived shortcomings – often from a partisan or ideological point of view. This is a partial list; inclusion does not imply endorsement by the Center for the Study of Journalism & Democracy:

www.fairpress.org
www.takebackthemedia.com
www.mediaresearch.org
www.mediachannel.org
www.fair.org
www.media-alliance.org

 
News councils involve citizens, opinion leaders and journalists in ongoing efforts to promote accuracy, balance and fairness in news coverage. They operate independently of individual news organizations, corporations and government, fielding complaints about press performance and sponsoring events to educate the public about how the press works. The news council movement is more prominent in other countries than in the United States; so far, active councils exist only in Washington State, Minnesota and Hawaii. For a list of these and international news councils, as well as suggestions on how to activate one in your area, visit the Washington News Council site at www.wanewscouncil.org.