Description
Certification Name: Certified Civic Journalist
Global Occupational Skill Standard – GOSS ID: GOSS/JPM/CCJ/V1
Eligibility: Graduation or Equivalent or minimum 2 years of relevant experience (experience-based learners can directly enroll and certify).
Objective: The Certified Civic Journalist course is designed to train individuals to report on issues that directly affect communities, promote civic engagement, and strengthen democracy through inclusive, solutions-oriented journalism. The course covers foundational journalism skills such as research, interviewing, writing, and fact-checking, while focusing on public-interest topics like governance, local policies, education, environment, and social justice.
Certification: Within 5 days after Completion of Online Assessment.
Get ready to join the Journey to become a GSDCI Certified Professional – International Certification and Assessment Body.
Steps to become a GSDCI Certified Professional:
Step 1: Select your certification you want to pursue.
Step 2: Click on get certified tab, new pop up window will open.
Step 3: Click on pay certification fee, you will be redirected to billing details page.
Step 4: Fill your details and click on pay certification fee, You will be redirected to payment gateway, pay fee by any available options like Card(Debit/Credit), Wallet, Paytm, Net banking, UPI and Google pay.
Step 5: You will get Login Credentials of Online E-Books and Online assessment link on your email id, within 48 hrs of payment.
Step 6: After completion of online assessment, you can download your Certificate Immediately.
Assessment Modules:
Module 1: Foundations of Civic Journalism: Definition and purpose of civic journalism, Differences between civic, citizen, and traditional journalism, Role of journalism in strengthening democracy and civic life, Historical evolution and key milestones of civic journalism, The journalist as a facilitator of public dialogue, Ethics and values in civic reporting.
Module 2: Community Engagement and Public Participation: Identifying and understanding community issues, Building trust and relationships with diverse communities, Techniques for participatory journalism and collaborative reporting, Organizing public forums, listening posts, and town halls, Gathering stories from underrepresented voices, Encouraging civic dialogue through media.
Module 3: Reporting on Local Governance and Public Affairs: Understanding structures of local government and civic institutions, Covering public meetings, elections, and civic events, Interpreting public records, budgets, and policies, Investigative techniques for local accountability journalism, Fact-checking official statements and decisions, Balancing objectivity with community advocacy.
Module 4: Multimedia Storytelling for Civic Impact: Using video, audio, photography, and infographics for civic reporting, Mobile journalism (MoJo) tools for field reporting, Creating compelling narratives that drive engagement, Designing content for accessibility and inclusivity, Publishing across digital platforms (web, podcasts, social media), Measuring audience impact and feedback.
Module 5: Ethical and Legal Aspects of Civic Journalism: Freedom of the press and responsibilities to the public, Respecting privacy, consent, and representation in community stories, Avoiding bias, stereotyping, and misinformation, Defamation, public interest defense, and rights to information, Handling sensitive issues with care and cultural sensitivity, Legal protections and limitations for journalists.
Module 6: Career Development and Civic Journalism Initiatives: Building a civic journalism portfolio, Partnering with NGOs, educational institutions, and local media, Grant writing and fundraising for civic journalism projects, Career paths in civic and community journalism, Using data and metrics to show social impact, Global examples and networks supporting civic journalism.
GSDCI Online Assessment Detail:
- Duration- 60 minutes.
- Number of Questions- 30.
- Number of Questions from each module: 5.
- Language: English.
- Exam Type: Multiple Choice Questions.
- Maximum Marks- 100, Passing Marks- 50%.
- There is no negative marking in any module.
| Marking System: | |||
| S.No. | No. of Questions | Marks Each Question | Total Marks |
| 1 | 10 | 5 | 50 |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 3 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 4 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| 30 | 100 | ||
| How Students will be Graded: | |||
| S.No. | Marks | Grade | |
| 1 | 91-100 | O (Outstanding) | |
| 2 | 81-90 | A+ (Excellent) | |
| 3 | 71-80 | A (Very Good) | |
| 4 | 61-70 | B (Good) | |
| 5 | 50-60 | P (Pass) | |
| 6 | 0-49 | F (Fail) | |
Benefits of Certification:
🌍 1. Global Recognition & Credibility – Stand out worldwide with a certification that opens doors across borders. Trusted by employers, respected by institutions, and recognized in over 100 countries.
📜 2. Quality Assurance through ISO Certification – Certified to global ISO standards, our programs deliver excellence, consistency, and a benchmarked learning experience that speaks for itself.
💼 3. Career Advancement & Employability – Enhances your resume and increases chances of promotions or job offers.
🤝 4. Non-Profit Trust Factor – Certifications from non-profit organizations are mission-driven rather than profit-driven.
📚 5. Access to Verified Learning & Resources – Often includes e-books, mock tests, and online support without hidden costs.
🔍 6. Transparency & Online Verification – Certifications come with a unique Enrolment ID for easy online verification by employers and institutions.
⏳ 7. Lifetime or Long-Term Validity – Certifications usually have lifetime validity or long-term recognition, reducing the need for frequent renewals.
