The border town of Ciudad Juarez may be best known for its problems, but that’s not the only story in town. A new project gathers citizen reports of everyday heroes in an effort to present a more balanced picture of life there.

Launched last December, "Cronicas de Heroes" or “Juarez Hero Reports” doesn’t report news in the conventional sense of the term. You won’t find stories about the weather, the government or sports. Instead, “Cronicas de Heroes” seeks to cover stories about ordinary people committing random acts of kindness, bravery and care. For “Cronicas,” important news is a report about neighbors transporting a woman having a heart attack to the nearest hospital. Another is about a nanny who foiled a kidnap attempt. The project abounds with stories about strangers helping people change flat tires or chipping in at the checkout line to help someone buy groceries.

Yesica Guerra, Director of “Cronicas De Heroes”, believes highlighting the positive happenings in Juarez and the people responsible for them is more than just a feel-good exercise. “I grew up in Chihuahua and still have family there. While the violence the world media portrays is of course there, there are many positive things also that need mentioning”, says Guerra.

In the seven months since it debuted, the project has reported more than 1,000 stories on its website. All reported by regular citizens. Some of the stories are submitted through the “Cronicas” website. But the project’s organizers make sure that people without access to the internet also have the opportunity to contribute. They hold in-person meetings where people can write down their stories on postcards, which are later published online.

Guerra edits and fact-checks every submission. As a safety measure, the site does not identify authors. The stories are published without attribution and lacking any details that might put people at risk. "Everything on the site is in Spanish and anonymous", says Guerra. She emphasizes that they are careful about not putting the hero mantle on anyone. "People help because they want to. Anonymity helps not making heroes out of people".

One of the biggest challenges the project faces, according to Guerra, is the limited internet access in Mexico. While the website’s traffic is growing, sometimes as high as 300 visits per week, the project’s target audience includes many who can’t visit the website.

From a web-based initiative, the project has grown to include activities that involve the public at a very intimate level, with people encouraged to share stories in person. "Cronicas" is employing creative strategies to reach its "offline” audience and build participation in the project. A group of urban street artists paint murals based on stories "Cronicas" publishes. One of these murals was painted as a community event, which helped spread the word about the project. Mainstream print newspapers and journals have begun publishing stories from “Cronicas.” The “Cronicas” team has also been invited to read their stories on radio.

(Source: AudienceScapes)