A steering committee for a national Civic Journalism Network of working journalists had its inaugural meeting Thursday at the ASNE convention. The network will give journalists a chance to discuss civic journalism.

Civic journalism is an effort to strengthen the connection between newspapers and the communities they serve, according to Chris Peck, editor of the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash.

"This is an idea that has become popular at many newspapers," Peck said. "It makes for better journalists and makes for better business."

Jan Schaffer, executive director of the Pew Center for Civic Journalism, said, "Civic journalism has become part of the newsgathering effort at hundreds of newspapers, and the journalists who use civic journalism techniques will benefit from having an organized network of professional contacts."

The network is privately funded and will not receive financial assistance from the Pew Center.

"The network will allow journalists to share their techniques in civic journalism. This will allow for more ideas to float up," Peck said.

By the fall, the Civic Journalism Network hopes to have a nationwide e-mail list and networking discussions with other journalism organizations nationwide.