I’ve said before that the job description for journalism is changing.
One aspect of this changing role is journalist as "community manager."
What does that mean? To me – It means that a journalist creates the space through which citizens can establish a community of their own and inform each other. The journalist doesn’t NEED to report. The journalist doesn’t NEED to write pithy ledes. What they need to do is become a host through which people can exchange information with each other in an open and honest manner.
That’s what journalism is – The exchange of information. We are information traders.
Welcome to the networked journalist.
The practices and principles of this notion are going to be tested in my next NewAssignment.Net project: BeatBloging.org (Seriously – check it out – a lot of labor went into that freak’n site).
Next on the Agenda: Sleep. Followed by a trip to Calgary for a media and law seminar where I’ll be on a panel about blogs and citizen journalism.
Upon my return to the bay: Monday the 19th I’ll be visiting the offices at Yahoo.
Blogging will continue to be light – but I am learning a lot and meeting lots of people. I will report back here when I can.
REALLY good blog, Dave!
Hey, I think you might be able to give me some suggestions on something.. I really need a new template, where did you get yours? It’s highly functional…
Anyway – talk to you soon,
Joe
Your description of a journalist as “community manager” is interesting, especially since that could also be said of the job of religious or spiritual leader. The town rabbi or pastor in many ways facilitates some of the same things in terms of encouraging community to form.
Speaking of community and the smallness of the world – I met your sister this week at the church’s new dinner program. She went to social work school with a fabulous congregant of ours. It was wonderful to get to meet her. You two Cohns are right on good folks!