Live Blogging from iDMAa Day 2: Print Journalism Online
The next session I chose to attend today is about how to bring print journalism online.
Deborah Gump with the Committee of Concerned Journalists was one of the presenters who spoke about the importance of providing readers with an opportunity to interact with the story online. One example she gave was American Public Media they are doing the "American Dream Idea Generator" to get people involved. They provide context as to why the "American Dream" isn't the same anymore, provide context and then get numbers/traffic (tracking that ROI!!). A local TV station engaged around politics. Contests, polls, discussions -- all leading to content (really information and news).
John Beatty, moderator and faculty from LaSalle University raised the following issues
- digital era = fundamental shift in communication
- Sender receiver or media audience dichotomies break down
- feedback loops therefore increase exponentially in complexity
- shifts in time, structor of hyper narrative, others?
AP CEO Tom Curley spoke of the "Fork in the Road" which highlights the challenges for journalism.
They are left with questions:
- Does Journalism exist?
- Is it gatekeeping? Who controls the gates?
- Are hybrid forms the only options?
- What about economic models?
- Are audiences more fragmented? Is it micro broadcasting?
- Are online print outlets synergistic?
- What holds promis for online newspaper? Video, RSS feeds, blogs, reader comments, comprehensive calendars, stringers breaking news, video letter, trends and predictions, more immediate layout concerns such as navigation, content, usability?
Conversations were varied about this topic ranging from how to keep journalism going...what is it, and is journalism's role a sensemaker? What is the importance between the self-selection of information vs. branding of a news identity? How do you get students/young people to understand the nuances of the journalism and information they do access? What is next for Journalism?
Great conversation -- no answers though (smile).
Quick shout out to iBrattleboro which was highlighted as an example of Hyperlocal Sites here in this conference in Philly!
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