Arresting the President

You just HAVE to love Vermont. As a "transplant" (I am so NOT a "flatlander), I cannot help but appreciate the intrinsic beauty of this state. From the leaves to the snow to maple syrup to the (mostly) respectful and courteous drivers to the politics.

From the inside looking out, it is stunning to think that people assume Vermont is "left-leaning" -- we have a republican governor for heaven's sake and even if we are the land that spawned Howard Dean, and the first Civil Union law, and Jim Jeffords going Independent and Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy...ok...ok....I guess all I can say is that we have a republican governor!

We have town meetings each year and frankly people in Vermont don't embrace change -- simple local votes such as consolidating towns/villages in order to save money over the long term run amok against the all important "local control". I guess that Vermonters just don't like to allow unfettered policy -- checks and balances...that's where it is at. Which explains Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords, and our republican governor and our more democrat than republican (for now) make up of the state legislature.

It may also have something to do with our own home-grown effort to have Vermont secede from the union. More on THAT at Vermont Commons! This state is independent in its thinking and frankly just down-right quirky!

Gotta LOVE IT!

So I'll get to the point...today's news supports that independent and quirky nature around our town meeting (happening in March). Where if you have enough signatures you can make any vote come to the floor. True grassroots at its most rootsy and grassy!

As we all know our esteemed President and Vice President have visited all the states in our nation save one. Vermont. (Probably a combo of voting record, Sen. Leahy blocking all sorts of appointments, Sen. Sanders just on principle alone, and the legacy of Sen. Jeffords.) As the clock runs down for the current regime in Washington, there is speculation that Bush/Cheney may make a last ditch pass through in the state. It would seem individuals in Brattleboro have decided that it's time to take preventative measures! CNN and AP are running stories about the fact that a group of individuals in Brattleboro are in the process of collecting signatures to add a new proposal to Town Meeting:

"Shall the Selectboard instruct the Town Attorney to draft indictments against President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against our Constitution, and publish said indictment for consideration by other municipalities? And shall it be the law of the Town of Brattleboro that the Brattleboro Police, pursuant to the above-mentioned indictments, arrest and detain George Bush and Richard Cheney in Brattleboro if they are not duly impeached, and extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them."

iBrattleboro has a post from Kurt Daims that is well worth the read.

Radical thought...in a democracy the PEOPLE should have the POWER to make change. Weird.

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

1. digital era = fundamental shift in communication
2. Sender receiver or media audience dichotomies break down
3. feedback loops therefore increase exponentially in complexity
4. 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:

1. Does Journalism exist?
2. Is it gatekeeping? Who controls the gates?
3. Are hybrid forms the only options?
4. What about economic models?
5. Are audiences more fragmented? Is it micro broadcasting?
6. Are online print outlets synergistic?
7. 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!