NewsTools Video Interview One: Ashoka Looks for Fellows in Journalism

The NewsTools conference at Yahoo was fantastic. It was a perfect mix of open space technology (ie: unconference) and productivity. It seemed like everyone there had a different project they were working on. I tried to talk with as many people as possible – and some of those conversations I got on video. As a result the next round of posting will be video.

Today’s video: Stephanie Savell – Senior Intrapreneur at Ashoka

At the WeMedia conference in Miami the Knight Foundation and Ashoka, two very excellent foundations, announced they were teaming up to find the new leaders of journalism. Details here.

There is a lot of talk about nonprofits and foundations coming to save journalism. I myself have mixed feelings. Obviously it isn’t a bad thing that philanthropy is coming to help keep journalism alive, but I hope the industry approaches this as a short-term crutch and not a long-term solution. From what I understand that’s exactly what Ashoka wants to do "we very much see ourselves as stepping in
at a critical moment for the field. And in no way do we support
journalism itself — only the people behind the ideas that really have
the potential to transform existing systems." – Stephanie wrote to me in an email.

I hadn’t heard of Ashoka before WeMedia – but after researching them it became very obvious that they are putting themselves out there to try and do as much good as possible. But don’t take my word for it….watch the video. (more info at Journalism.Ashoka.org)