Independent Newsmedia launches civility platform for Arizona newspapers, readers

Independent Newsmedia/Chris Williams

PHOENIX —  Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, has launched the Civility Learning Lab, a free, non-subscription platform designed to promote civil discussion of issues affecting Arizonans. 

CivilityLearningLab.org is a first-of-its-kind Arizona-wide initiative to promote engagement among Arizona residents and help smaller state newsrooms to have good content for their publications and digital platforms.

“This initiative is intended to unite Arizonans on the importance of preserving the First Amendment and to expand awareness by engaging in community discussion on public issues with accountability and kindness,” Independent Newsmedia CEO Charlene Bisson said. “We have faith in the public’s ability to make good decisions if we provide a solid understanding of community issues and a place to debate and develop their opinions. We believe our communities need a platform to debate the issues and share the best ideas to affect change in their neighborhoods, cities and towns.”

Visitors to the website will find opinions on a variety of subjects that are free to use with credit to the author and where it originally appeared and the CivilityLearningLab.org. They’ll also find articles on civil discourse from subject matter experts, including:

• “Respectful restraint vs. leading with love” by Adam Seagrave, Ph.D. and “What is civility and why must we cultivate it?” by Joan McGregor, both of Arizona State University;
• “Now is the time to teach civil discourse” by Sherman Elliott of Grand Canyon University;
• “Stop screaming! The more you listen, the more you’re heard” by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez of Mesa Community College; and
• “Civil discourse: Sign of a healthy civilization” by Sarah Marie Walker of Northern Arizona University.

Additional resources on the site include INI’s Civility Checklist and Civility Pledge, as well as a list of newspapers across Arizona that accept letters to the editor and Op-Ed submissions.

CivilityLearningLab.org is made possible by sponsorships from INI USA and retired INI USA CEO Joe Smyth. For more information on the platform or how to become a sponsor, email Bisson at cbisson@iniusa.org.