Newsout
From New England News Forum
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NEWSOUT: What to do when the newsroom lights go out:
Options and strategies for New England communities
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New tools and approaches are making it possible for both government and citizens to use the Internet to supplement the role of traditional media to keep the public informed, some 50 reporters, editors, citizen journalists, academics and citizens learned on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at "Newsout: What to do when the newsroom lights grow dim."
This page links to presentations, blog reports, photos, a slideshow,audio and video reports from the one-day symposium at Boston University. For background, consults the SCHEDULE/PROGRAM as well as the LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
In the last 18 months, some 15,000 U.S. working journalist have lost their jobs through retirement, buyouts or layoffs. New England newsrooms have not been immune.
If independent, watchdog journalism is critical to participatory democracy, then what should communities do when the lights dim -- to use a metaphor -- at news organizations? Who will watch the school board? Check public records before planning, zoning and conservation boards? Champion those in need? Connect the dots on critical regional issues?
(From left, Joe Bergantino, Carol Amick, Steve Collins and Jane Stevens -- Photo courtesy of Doug Hardy)
POST EVENT RESOURCES
- Flip through a slide show of Stephen Clift's presentation giving more than 30 examples of how governments are using the web to be more open with public information and resources.
REPORTS FROM BREAKOUTS
- DEMOCRACY – What can lawmakers do; non-profit newspapers; why does “newspaper” or “journalism” matter?
http://dbs.hosting.crocker.com/wiki/index.php/Newsout-democracy
- TRAINING – Train, audit, ethics of citi-journos; framework for citizen journs so pros can “do good stories”
http://dbs.hosting.crocker.com/wiki/index.php/Newsout-training
- BUSINESS – Sustainable early revenue stream; viable funding strategies; public notice revenues.
http://dbs.hosting.crocker.com/wiki/index.php/Newsout-business
STREAMING VIDEO RESOURCES
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March 21, 2009 event convened at Boston University exploring the future of news and newspapers. Here the following panelists are featured: - - Joe Bergantino, director the New England Center for Investigative Journalism. Bergantino, co-chair of the New England News Forum advisory board, is a former CBS-Channel 4 investigative reporter who is among pioneers of new forms of non-profit civic journalism. His focus: "How a Reporter Works with the Community." - Carol Amick, former editor, Bedford Minuteman and former Massachusetts state senator presents on her experiences on watchdog journalism and corruption in politics, especially with in Massachusetts. Her focus is: "What Happens When the Watchdog Goes to Sleep?" For more information on this event, visit http://www.newsout.org
- Foster's Daily Democrat Executive Editor Rod Doherty borrowed an idea from John Kellogg, editor of the Waterbury (Conn.) Republican to produce a series of large-format display ads which chronicle specific instances in which reporting by the Dover, N.H. newspaper made a difference. Foster's website editor Phil Kincaid put together a quick, five-minute video for Newsout -- VIEW STREAMING VIDEO OF THE NEWSPAPERS MATTER PROJECT
TWITTER RESOURCES
WHO PARTICIPATED -- the list
The New England News Forum at UMass Amherst, the Boston University College of Communication, the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, The Boston Foundation and ReadMedia.com joined to host a one-day collaboration to probe and offer action-oriented answers to this question: "What happens when the newsroom lights go dim?"
REVIEW PROGRAM
