Library
From New England News Forum
New England News Forum . . . . . . . TOP ROW: Hume, Crossley, Williams, Wilpers; BOTTOM ROW: McDermott, Boylan, Blais, Brandon.
The Civic News Library Listening Series
- Boston Public Library, Thurs., May 17, 2007, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
- Springfield [Mass.] Public Library, Thurs., May 24, 2007, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
DOWNLOAD NEWS RELEASE (pdf). . . LEARN WHO'S ATTENDING . . . back to MAIN ANNOUNCEMENT PAGE.
Two free, public events organized by the New England News Forum at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with program support from the Massachusetts Foundation on the Humanities and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Attendance is FREE, but to foster networking opportunities, you are invited to add your name to our GUEST LIST.
"Restoring Media Trust:
The News Revolution -- What Does It Mean to Your Community?"
DESCRIPTION
Internet technology is dramatically changing the financing and formatting of the news, profoundly affecting participatory democracy and community, and eroding public trust in the media. Existing news organizations, citizens and "bloggers" are experimenting with new forms. The New England News Forum (NENF) is inaugurating the "Civic News Library Listening Series," to help understand these changes. In Springfield, and Boston, and then throughout New England during 2007 and 2008, the NENF will enlist the support of libraries, local media organizations and active citizens in a series of "town meetings." These evening events will typically involve several disussion leaders and then an explicit period of "listening" to citzens express concerns about the news. They will often be videotaped for research.
PROGRAM
The evenings will start with a 6:30 p.m. reception, and a program at 7 p.m. running until 8:15 p.m., followed by a "listening" session that will run formally until 9 p.m., or a little later if the facility can stay open later. The evenings will be moderated overall by UMass-Amherst journalism Prof. Stephen Simurda. In Springfield on May 24 and Boston on May 17, Meredith McCulloch, (retired head librarian, Bedford, Mass.), will introduce the evening program.
PARTICIPANTS FOR BOSTON
Guests/Conveners:
Ellen Hume, director Center on Media and Society and the Ethnic Media Project at UMass Boston; John Wilpers, editor, Boston Now; Callie Crossley, Beat the Press and WGBH; Lisa Williams, H2Otown.info, Placeblogger.com and Berkman Center.
ARE YOU ATTENDING BOSTON? ADD YOUR NAME.
PARTICIPANTS FOR SPRINGFIELD
Guests/Conveners:
Larry McDermott, Springfield Republican editor; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (tentative); Madeleine Blais, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, professor at UMass-Amherst; James Boylan, former editor, Columbia Journalism Review; Heather Brandon, Valley Advocate city blogger.
ARE YOU ATTENDING SPRINGFIELD? ADD YOUR NAME.
A. What is the New England News Forum? -- 10 minutes
Bill Densmore, NENF director, will describe the mission of the New England News Forum describe the evening discussion, and then explain the concept of a post-program "listening" session to hear testimony addressing questions such as:
- How do you judge the quality and trustworthiness of the news?
- What is your biggest concern about media and democracy?
- Can, or should, citizens help create and present the news?
- If you were an editor, what would you cover that's not covered?
B. Setting the scene -- 10 minutes
We start with a 10-minute talk by either the convenor or a designated hitter or local expert. This will explore the themes of news becoming a conversation, how this imposes new opportunities and responsibilities on both the public and on media professionals, and highlights some of the specific things (particuarly around New England) which have sprung up in response. It will set the scene for the increased need for accountability and openess in media.
In Springfield this will be Madeleine Blais; in Boston, Ellen Hume.
C. Discussion -- consumer, creator or what? -- 45 minutes
Next we'll have a discussion among four people, including the convenor (Blais/Hume) directing the conversation as appropriate:
- Speaker One is from local, legacy media to convey the new challenges, opportunities as seen by media professionals. Focus on how they are rearranging relationship with users. (McDermott in Springfield; Wilpers in Boston.
- Speaker Two is from a local example of disruptive media (Low Power FM/community cable/news blogger). Talking about how technology has changed what they are able to do and how it empowers citizens. (Brandon in Springfield; Williams in Boston)
- Speaker Three is from either government or policy outfit or a special community. Talks about the challenges and opportunities and how it makes government or policy formulation more accessible and participatory.(Neal (tentative) in Springfield; Hume in Boston)
- Speaker Four is a media commentator to provide overview. (Boylan in Springfield: Crossley in Boston)
D. Five-minute break -- 5 minutes
E. Listening session -- 45 minutes
We convene a listening session, in which convenor and guests "listen" to and comment on public testimony -- and innovative media-community building ideas -- from the audience.
Ground rules:
- Give your name and community of residence
- Limit yourself to one minute
VIDEOTAPING
Both events will be videotaped, so that they can be converted to QT video for streaming on the web and potentially broadcast on public-access channels.
The New England News Forum is funded in part by a seed grant from the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation. the Civic Library Listening Series is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Foundation on the Humanities.
