Digital District: Local News and Online Media Access in Washington

New America Foundation
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

In recent years neighborhood blogs, local online news portals and aggregators, social media applications, and community media centers have all expanded the sources of local information available to communities while simultaneously inviting the public to play a more active role in sharing and producing the news. With its distinctive and diverse neighborhoods, Washington, D.C., is a microcosm for examining new approaches to media production and digital access and their potential for changing the way communities engage with their neighbors and representatives.

Panelists will consider new approaches to:

• covering news at the hyperlocal level,
• encouraging civic engagement in communities, and
• bridging the digital divide.

After the panel discussion, attendees are invited to a reception to meet the inaugural class of Public Media Corps fellows and hear about the projects they are beginning to promote broadband adoption through technology and media production training at high schools, public broadcast stations, and non-profit community anchor institutions in Columbia Heights and Anacostia.

Featured Speakers
Dan Silverman
Neighborhood Blogger, "Prince of Petworth"

Veronica O. Davis, PE
Urban Planner/Civil Engineer, NspireGreen
Neighborhood Blogger, "Life in the Village"

Ariel Valdez
Fellow, Public Media Corps

Justin Jouvenal
Web editor, PostLocal.com (Washington Post)

Moderator
Steve Coll
President, New America Foundation

To RSVP for the event:
http://www.newamerica.net/events/2010/digital_district

For questions, contact Stephanie Gunter at (202) 596-3367 or gunter@newamerica.net

For media inquiries, contact Kate Brown at (202) 596-3365 or brown@newamerica.net