Fiona Morgan · Storify

Future of Online Journalism Symposium

Fiona Morgan — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:27:55 GMT

The I/S journal at The Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law hosted this discussion of media, policy and technology March 29-30, 2012.

Storified by Fiona Morgan · Thu, Apr 05 2012 13:27:55

This March, a group of scholars, policy-makers, media makers and students came together for a one-and-a-half-day symposium to discuss the future of online journalism. This site includes the program and bios of all contributors, and hopefully will soon include video and/or audio of the presentations.

The Future of Online Journalism | News, Community and Democracy ...

The Future of Online Journalism: News, Community, and Democracy in the Digital ... newcommunities.org, covers community development in ...

Be sure to click through to the second page of this Storify story for live Tweets from the discussion.

Background

The event was organized by student editors at this journal. Each year, I/S takes up a distinct area of interest at the intersection of law and policy. They host a convening, out of which come articles that form the journal.

I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society

I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society is an interdisciplinary journal of research and commentary concentrating o...

Free symposium on the future of online journalism - EW Scripps ...

Mar 1, 2012 ... "The Future of Online Journalism: News, Community, and Democracy in the Digital Age" will bring together lead...

This year's topic had to do with information needs of communities -- a rubric laid out by the Knight Commission on Information Needs in Communities. Peter Shane, a law professor at Ohio State University, was executive director of the commission and the architect of its report. Many other scholars and policy researchers have taken up the info needs concept as the basis of future work -- including the Federal Communications Commission, which, under the leadership of Steven Waldman, undertook its own report on how the U.S. media system serves (and does not serve) the information needs of local communities.

Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age ...

Apr 7, 2010 ... The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy has created what it hopes will be a helpfu...

Moritz College of Law - Faculty: Peter M. Shane

Jacob E. Davis and Jacob E. Davis II Chair in Law Peter M. Shane Professor Shane came to Ohio State in 2003 from Carnegie Mellon Universi...

Information Needs of Communities | FCC.gov

In culmination of its work over the last year, the FCC Working Group on the Information Needs of Communities delivered a report on June...

Broadcasters' public political files: the most pressing topical issue discussed at the symposium

Both Steven Waldman and Dick Tofel, general manager of ProPublica, discussed a policy issue the FCC is expected to take up soon: Increased transparency for political advertising at broadcast stations.

News Organizations That Lobby Against Their Own Reporters ...

Mar 27, 2012 ... Steven Waldman was senior advisor to the Chairman of the FCC and the lead author of the report, "Information Need...

If TV Stations Won't Post Their Data on Political Ads, We Will ...

Mar 20, 2012 ... ProPublica is following the money and exploring campaign issues ... If TV Stations Won't Post Their Data on Politi...

Significant reports cited during symposium discussions

Most of these are either authored or cited by the presenters. These reports provide a good background on the scope of issues and experiments in the field.

Getting Local - Knight Digital Media Center

Oct 18, 2011 ... Larger local news websites seek to move beyond heavy reliance on foundation grants with new sources of revenue. A new ...

Report: Critical Strategies for Growing a Nonprofit Newsroom ...

Mar 14, 2012 ... The Investigative News Network has released a new report that examines strategies critical for nonprofit newsrooms to ...

Philadelphia Enterprise Reporting Awards » Publications » J-Lab

Dec 15, 2011 ... Enterprise Reporting FundA pilot project designed to amplify public ... Grant Funding DatabaseJ-Lab tracks grants awar...

Navigating the New Ethics of Local Journalism - J-Lab

Jul 20, 2011 ... Rules of the Road: Navigating the New Ethics of Local Journalism. Written by Scott Rosenberg Edited by Jan Schaffer an...

Presenters' projects

One of the best aspects of the symposium was learning more about the hyperlocal news sites and other experiments in online journalism that others are doing - how they work, why they work, and what people have learned from those that failed.

My SXSW Story -- Monday, March 12th

Fiona Morgan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:03:10 GMT

Check out what I did, who I met, where I went in Austin today.

Storified by Fiona Morgan · Thu, Mar 15 2012 12:03:10

I'm seeing The Hyperlocal Hoax: Where's the Holy Grail? at SXSW 2012. #sxsw #hyperhype http://t.co/tENDKCyY
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:41:32

#hyperhype "Traditional media have been strip-mined by private capital" @lisawilliams #sxsw
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:44:47

@mikeorren: Two hyperlocal models. Be niche, then scale. Be more than news; give data. #hyperhype
— Jan Schaffer · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:49:46

If you make your work into a crusade, people will behave irrationally in your favor #hyperhype
— Lisa Williams · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:50:54

Once again: TBD wasn't hyperlocal. RT @cochranism: Whoa. #TBD gets call out on slide in hyperlocal hoax. More to the story there. #hyperhype
— Daniel Victor · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:52:09

"The big guys, no matter how well intentioned, will find a way to drive the bus over you"
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:53:31

Cautionary tale from @orren about picking right partners: Big guys, even well intentioned, find a way to drive the bus over you #hyperhype
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:56:07

@jessdrkn I wish you were too! Would love to debrief w you after
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 07:57:27

My last tweet mistook speaker -- it was @mikeorren #hyperhype
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:01:43

@duncanpardo So much to tell you, lots of great takeaways for @raleighpublicre
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:02:30

@notjessewalker Actually the gist of it is very, "here's how you can make money out of it"
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:03:23

Underpants gnomes reference in #hyperhype session = dead on. "Entrepreneurial, if you're not familiar w term, means $" @markbriggs
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:05:04

@lisawilliams Measurement by better defining what a #hyperlocal is, ID new vocabulary, players. Will help with meaningful policy. #hyperhype
— jessica durkin · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:07:29

.@shawnpwilliams has the same VC I did: Sell Your Personal Possessions on Ebay Capital Partners. #hyperhype
— Lisa Williams · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:09:37

yesterday, happy to meet in person Salon's @irincarmon & former Salon colleague @fionamorgan now doing fascinating work on media & democracy
— Scott Rosenberg · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:10:28

Basic economics of successful #hyperlocal sound v old-school: Bundle news content w entertainment & consumer demand info #hyperhype
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:10:58

People writing checks and making decisions still read newspapers, so Dallas South News has monthly print @shawnpwilliams #hyperhype
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:13:06

Take note #hyperhype: MT @jayrosen_nyu: The realities of hyperlocal: A Patch editor describes two years on the job... http://t.co/nEjnGdqs
— Mike Orren · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:23:14

.@susanmernit of @oaklandlocal: "I'm tired of hearing 'We love you, but...' People don't seem to want to pay for milk." #hyperhype
— Lisa Williams · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:32:54

@lisawilliams @jessdrkn True. I think ad stuff was easiest stuff to tweet. It was a great panel.
— Fiona Morgan · Mon, Mar 12 2012 08:50:36

My SXSW Story -- Saturday, March 10th

Fiona Morgan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:01:27 GMT

Check out what I did, who I met, where I went in Austin today.

Storified by Fiona Morgan · Thu, Mar 15 2012 12:01:27

Great chat w @jessamyn @rtburg @tomstites @NorbertoSantana before our panel Press for the Digital Age #digipenny http://t.co/M82LnAOU
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 06:46:03

Your ears will be burning this morning @mlfulton during our #SXSW panel #digipenny as we discuss news coverage of low-income communities
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 06:52:05

@cynthiamartinez A Penny Press for the Digital Age http://t.co/PV9eA94t our tag is #digipenny
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 07:02:58

"Newspapers sell trust not ads" @rtburg at #SWSX #digipenny.
— Klaus Weinmaier · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:20:05

I'm seeing Philanthropy Is Not the Future of Journalism at SXSW 2012. #sxsw #NotFuture http://t.co/BnCLeESZ
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:11:45

Janet Coasts: There is no such thing as money without strings attached. Foundations, like advertisers, expect something #notfuture #sxsw
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:14:16

@mariahc Thank you! So glad you were there.
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:21:52

Thanks for this! RT @sam_piroton: Read my @Storify story: "Sxsw panel: a penny press for the digital age" http://t.co/URUTNmcv
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:26:05

.@michelemclellan's @knightfdn report on non-profit news orgs http://t.co/yemBnPop #sxswi #SXNotFuture #pubmedia
— Nicole Hollway · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:30:45

St. Louis Beacon targeted people who opened and clicked on headline email every day. Percent who gave? 0. #freeriderproblem #sxnotfuture
— Ryan Thornburg · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:39:51

"Engagement " a squishy term but has to do w: What happens to the content after you create it? What are people doing with it? #SXnotfuture
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:43:17

.@nicoleholloway : "Don't take your failures out back" -- put them out in the open and learn from them #SXnotfuture
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 09:51:21

Reporters’ Lab searches for ways to make reporting cheaper, without cheapening the reporting http://t.co/bBCTKF4H
— Nieman Lab · Sat, Mar 10 2012 10:05:12

Getting schooled at SXSW http://t.co/csyn3dPl. #digitaldivide #diginclusion
— Communities Connect · Sat, Mar 10 2012 10:22:31

I'm seeing Rise of Analytics: Impacting the Editorial Process? at SXSW 2012. #sxsw #editdata http://t.co/pwa2VInx
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 10:34:35

Wired is full of data geeks, but Young says "We ignore data all the time" especially with covers and stories with impact #SXeditdata
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 10:44:24

Wired and Conde Nast #sxswi talking about assessing the individual performance of journos. 'it's not a way of knocking people out of jobs'
— emily bell · Sat, Mar 10 2012 11:03:15

Sad to miss #SXSW this year. I thought my panel was a sure thing: "How mashing up Pinterest and 4Square will elect a third party president."
— daveweigel · Sat, Mar 10 2012 13:18:13

@jenleereeves So great to meet you both! Loved what you said about journalists needing to think like librarians.
— Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 13:25:17

My SXSW Story -- Friday, March 9th

Fiona Morgan — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:00:59 GMT

Check out what I did, who I met, where I went in Austin today.

Storified by Fiona Morgan · Sat, Mar 10 2012 02:00:59

Other #Duke folks going to #SXSW besides me and @sarahduke ?
— Fiona Morgan · Fri, Mar 09 2012 05:16:30

RT @OpenRural: @fionamorgan has Storified our #digipenny pannel at #sxswi. http://t.co/XdPzzLXm
— Fiona Morgan · Fri, Mar 09 2012 10:21:41

Design for mobile first when trying to bridge the digital divide, cleaner, focused design. #SXSWi #DGTLDIV
— NBPCBlackPublicMedia · Fri, Mar 09 2012 12:15:49

Good point: Design conventions create a digital cultural barrier to entry: nav, search skills, reg/login, privacy. #sxsw #dgtldiv
— Brian Underwood · Fri, Mar 09 2012 12:51:19

Journalists @ #SXSW pls join us tomorrow at 9:30 am for A Penny Press for the Digital Age #digipenny http://t.co/PV9eA94t
— Fiona Morgan · Fri, Mar 09 2012 16:23:16

#SXSWi 2012: A Penny Press for the Digital Age

Fiona Morgan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:26:12 GMT

This SXSW Interactive panel discussed how low-income and working-class people – the majority of Americans – can be included in the future of online news. Saturday, 3/10/2012 9:30AM Sheraton Austin. #sxsw #digipenny #sxdigipenny

Storified by Fiona Morgan · Thu, Mar 15 2012 12:26:12

Fionamorgan

A Penny Press for the Digital Age

In the 19th century, the "penny press" revolutionized journalism by covering news that appealed to the broadest possible public. Today, a...

Panelist Ryan Thornburg, a journalism professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, blogged for Media Shift about how his Knight News Challenge project, Open Rural, is helping to make local news and information more available to low-income, rural communities.

MediaShift Idea Lab . At SXSW: Building Trust With a Penny Press for the Digital Age | PBS

by Ryan Thornburg (Bio), March 6, 2012 Tagged: accountability journalism, digital divide, influence, investigative journalists, openblock...

You may have heard of "food deserts," neighborhoods that lack access to fresh produce and healthy groceries. In Nieman Lab, panelist Tom Stites discusses "news deserts," communities that lack access to basic reporting and information. "Elites and the affluent are awash in information designed to serve them," Tom writes, "but everyday people, who often grapple with significantly different concerns, are hungry for credible information they need to make their best life and citizenship decisions."

Tom Stites: Layoffs and cutbacks lead to a new world of news deserts

Editor's note: Tom Stites had a long career in newspapers, editing Pulitzer-winning projects and working at top newspapers like The New Y...

If you're wondering why there's a librarian on a journalism panel, check out Jessamyn's talk about the digital divide. If the future of news is online, this is worrying.

librarian.net » Blog Archive » streamlined digital divide talk – 12 minutes

A few weekends ago I gave a talk at the KU Diversity Summit, an online conference that took place virtually, but also physically at the K...

This Pew study from 2010 did a fascinating breakdown by household income of how people use the internet and consume news, online and off. What struck me most was that the divide between income brackets is most stark for online news.

Use of the internet in higher-income households | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

Those in higher-income households are different from other Americans in their tech ownership and use. Analysis of several recent surveys ...

This blog post by Mary Lou Fulton was part of the inspiration for this panel. She is a former Los Angeles Times reporter, now a foundation program officer at the California Endowment. She has a lot of insight into how newspapers in particular evolved in a way that leaves low-income people out of the conversation.

Murders and festivals: understanding what drives news coverage of poor communities

March 8, 2010 at 10:49 am (community journalism, foundations, media industry) Let's face it: even in the "good old days" when mainstream ...

Here are the tweets from our panel. Hashtags were #digipenny and #sxdigipenny. Thanks to all who contributed to the conversation:

@Krochmal Thanks for including #digipenny in your #sxsw recap. Enjoying your curation of community / journo panels http://bit.ly/w6GIGG
— Fiona Morgan · Sun, Mar 11 2012 13:52:20

RT @MediaFunders: If you reduce cost of public affairs news you can reinvest $ into accountability #journalism #SXdigipenny
— MiltonCBMachel · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:57:39

Jessamyn West uses an online credit card app to show how inexperienced internet users are persuaded to click yes #sxsw #digipenny
— Kelly Dilworth · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:38:41

"Newspapers sell trust not ads" @rtburg at #SWSX #digipenny.
— Klaus Weinmaier · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:20:05

Who what when where coverage is there, but the how and why is missing #SXdigipenny
— GFEM · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:13:15

Check out OpenBlock - a hyper-local news & data platform: http://openblockproject.org/ #digipenny #sxsw
— Shane Guiter · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:15:46

Need to address third sector (citizen sector) as possible model for journalism instead of nonprofit v for profit model #digipenny
— GFEM · Sat, Mar 10 2012 08:23:04