Live Blogging….
I’m in Chicago. While here I hope to meet Andrew Mason from ThePoint.com and long time e-friend Muhammad Saleem.
But today I’m at a Knight Foundation gathering. While my current project is funded by the Knight News Challenge, I am in no way obligated to praise them. In fact, I’m convinced if I did challenge them, they would applaud it. But right now I can’t. As far as I can tell – the foundation is sincerely dedicated to doing research and development that will help communities meet their news and information needs.
I still am amazed that I have been swept up into this. Today I am surrounded by 180 change-makers in the media world including the American Society of Newspapers, Society of Profesional Journalists, International Center for Journalists, IRE, NPR, Maynard Institute, World Press Freedom Committee, 25 universities from A-Y (Arizona to Yale). Then there are individuals like Ethan Zuckerman, Dan Gillmor, Diane Lynch, Ellen Hume, Dale Peskin and countless others
But this gathering alone is no reason to celebrate. We have a very real and serious task ahead of us. Things aren’t pretty right now. I’m sure I don’t need to go into details.
For a long time there was a debate about whether or not we should stick our heads in the sand and try to wait it out. I think that time/debate is over. At the beginning of this year there was talk about “newsroom culture” and my response was: I’m over debating and moving on. Jeff Jarvis stated it better than I.
Move on to what?
Uncharted territories. That’s what the Internet is. We are only 10-15 years into this life-changing medium, there is still space for journalism to come in and find its place.
Are we ready to go digital?
Not yet – but we will be soon IF we experiment. The law of numbers says one of us will be successful. Which means the collective principles we hold (fairness, accuracy and public service).
What can we learn from Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, etc – which so far are the biggest players/success in this space? Should we try to engage with this existing networks or make our own? Do we focus on what we know best (making content) or expand into new spaces (making platforms).
These are hard questions and we won’t come to any answers today. But I am excited and invigorated.
Hey great that you are in the Windy City, you have hit a great weather slot for the next few days.
I could not figure where you might be attending the sessions. Let me know if you want to catch a break for a look at loop high lights.
I work in the loop and would love to show you around.
If you are here for a few days I might be able to get you into the Tribune for a look around.
Regards, Alan by way of CS blog!
Hey great that you are in the Windy City, you have hit a great weather slot for the next few days.
I could not figure where you might be attending the sessions. Let me know if you want to catch a break for a look at loop high lights.
I work in the loop and would love to show you around.
If you are here for a few days I might be able to get you into the Tribune for a look around.
Regards, Alan by way of CS blog!
Dave — props to you for the passion and clarity of mission you bring to all your “lab work” on various social-web services. In all seriousness, it’s you who comes to mind first when I think of journalism’s role in the more-settled-out media landscape we’ll see down the pike.
I’ve been meaning to reach out for some time about something we’ve been cooking at OnEarth, and is now almost done. Will send a note soon.
iWilker
Please always feel free to contact me. I try to make myself as available as possible.
Best
David