Convening a System to Reimagine News and Community
By Peggy Holman
What does it take to change a social system--and an industry like journalism?
A new story of journalism is being born as the old story is dying. At its heart, that new story stays true--and enlarges on--a purpose many journalists hold dear: "to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing" (Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel).
For nine years, Journalism That Matters (JTM) has:
- Engaged people from all aspects of journalism: print, broadcast, and new media; editors, reporters, bloggers, audience, reformers, educators, and others;
- Created space for conversations about what matters most;
- Worked with what's emerging for news and information in a democracy.
In Seattle this January, JTM hosted 240+ people from mass media and hyperlocal media, entrepreneurs, technologists, academics, students, nonprofit organizers, artists, activists, and others to consider the question:
What's possible for our region when journalists and the public come together?
The 3 1/2-day conference began with a "News and Information Commons," in which Northwest media organizations shared their work through informal displays and conversation. The evening program featured three "conversation catalysts." Each spoke for 10 minutes on journalism and civic engagement. Norman Rice, former Seattle mayor and president of the Seattle Foundation, spoke for the people. Tracy Record, former newspaper reporter and now publisher and editor of the West Seattle Blog, spoke for the press. Chris Jordan, a visual artist, provided a systems-oriented twist to storytelling that engaged the heart as well as the mind.
Attendees then participated in several rounds of World Café conversations, moving between groups of four, cross-pollinating ideas, and discovering new insights into the questions or issues that are important to them.
The rest of the conference used Open Space Technology, a process through which participants self-organize, setting the agenda based on individual passions and interests. Each day began with a plenary to organize the agenda. The day also ended with a plenary, to reflect on emerging themes. Captured eloquently by student participant Amy Rainey, the themes included:
- Passion. "At this time of transformation, we all need to connect with our feelings and care, and put that caring into our work," artist Chris Jordan told the audience during an opening night speech. "It's time to take the templates off and speak authentic human being to authentic human being." This idea of showing passion in our work--and showing love for the communities we cover--came up repeatedly.
- Community. We quickly learned that generations define communities differently. For younger people, our communities are online, not necessarily based on geography.
- Collaboration. On Saturday, I tweeted that the word of the day was "collaboratory." By Sunday, a group was working on plans for a JTMPNW collaboratory, a learning lab for entrepreneurial projects and nourishing connections, and tying the idea to the creation of a civic commons.
- Engagement. Journalists need to stop talking to their audience and instead engage in a conversation with them.
- Media Literacy. In an information-packed world in which everyone is a journalist, the public needs better training about evaluating news sources and information for accuracy and credibility.
- Hyperlocal. Several discussions focused on the need for collaboration between hyperlocal neighborhood bloggers and mass media. On the final day, a large group worked on building a roadmap for mass media and hyperlocal journalists to work together and find financial sustainability.
- Government Coverage. Many participants were concerned about the effect that cutbacks at traditional media outlets have had on state and local government coverage. But we also learned about new projects to solve this problem. One attendee, Trevor Griffey, is starting a nonprofit site called Olympia Newswire to cover this year's legislative session and revitalize statehouse reporting.
- Business Models. Creating new business models was, of course, a big part of the conversation. "It doesn't have to be one model. It can be lots of small revenue streams," I overheard someone say. Those revenue streams include memberships, foundations, grants, advertising, holding events, subscriptions, and so on.
If there's one thing we all learned, it's that the opportunities for collaboration and experimentation are endless in our new news ecology.
JTM did a great job using social media and aggregating that information. You can read notes from the various sessions on the JTM wiki, catch up on the tweets, view photos, and watch videos. If you're interested in joining this conversation and attending future events, join the LinkedIn group.
Moving Forward
On the final morning, the group identified its next steps. Session notes are posted, and the work continues.
Peggy Holman hosts conversations that matter, inviting people to gather around the issues most important to them and move their dreams into action. Her book, The Change Handbook, co-edited with Tom Devane and Steven Cady, has been warmly received by people wishing to increase resilience, connection, collaboration, and aliveness in their organizations and communities.