Block by Block: Imagining the sequel(s)

The online community news leaders and their shared passion for local news was the most impressive part of Block by Block: Community News Summit 2010. More impressive — and challenging — is where local editors and publishers take it from here. A big tip of the hat to online publishers, including Susan Mernit, Andre Natta … Continued

Coffeeshop newsroom concept catching on — two fellows working it; so is Starbucks

The idea of assigning reporters to work from coffee shops and other public spaces is gradually picking up steam. See:  Coffeeshop Newsrooms Yield Stories, Sources, Understanding of Journalism at the Poynter site. Both David Cohn, one of this fall’s incoming Reynolds Fellows, and Bill Densmore, a consultant to RJI, (this post author) have been pitching the … Continued

AUDIO: Community media and the future of news

Reynolds Journalism Institute consultant Bill Densmore moderates a panel at the Alliance for Community Media in Pittsburgh: “Community Media and the Future of News.” As the decline of newspapers is felt throughout the country, could community media & technology centers be the new model for local news? Could Citizen Journalism be an opportunity for community … Continued

Debunking the replacement myth

The tired idea that born-on-the-Web news sites will replace traditional media is wrong-headed, and it’s past time that academic research and news reports reflect that. Jay Rosen, the New York University professor and media critic, calls them “replaceniks,” and it’s an apt term. Rosen is talking about people who insist on evaluating new, born-on-the-web news … Continued

AUDIO: Explaining the Information Trust Association idea

In this 22-minute audio podcast, Bill Densmore of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) explains the evolution of the Information Trust Association idea. Accompanying the audio is a slide deck which can be viewed at: http://www.newshare.com/ita.pdf Densmore spoke at RJI on June 24, 2010, during a conference entititled: “From Blueprint to Building: Making the … Continued

AUDIO: Five minutes about InfoValet on WJR Detroit’s Frank Beckman show

In a five-minute audio podcast, CircLabs Inc. co-founder and Information Valet Project director Bill Densmore talks with Frank Beckman, live on WJR-AM Detroit, about an idea for one-ID, one-account, one-bill access to web news information and about the Information Trust Association idea. Beckman invited Densmore onto his morning talk program on July 19, after reading a post on the … Continued

DC think-tank strategist warns PEG-access TV operators of “uber” radio spectrum policy battles

PITTSBURGH, Penn. — Cable public-access station operators were given a strong dose of media policy on Thursday at their annual convention as a Washington, D.C. think-tank leader urged them to join an “urber” political battle playing out among telecommunications companies, regulators and public advocates. Corporations are working to control the public airwaves and radio spectrum … Continued

Using Media to Create Shade in Miami’s Little Haiti: Part 2

PRI’s morning news show The Takeaway, co-produced with WNYC Radio, has been in Miami this week trying a new approach to serving a community. Instead of covering the Little Haiti neighborhood, journalists are trying to build ties and engage Haitian residents in the newsgathering. This is the second of two posts from PRI’s Michael Skoler … Continued

The Takeaway seeks to engage diverse communities via texting: Part 1

This week, The Takeaway takes to the streets of Miami in the latest of its experiments to partner with communities in gathering news and uncovering stories that deserve attention. The Takeaway is a new morning news show produced by Public Radio International (PRI) and WNYC Radio. Initial audience data shows its conversational format and editorial … Continued