From Gatekeeper to Information Valet: Workplans for Sustaining Journalism
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
10am-4pm
The George Washington University
805 21st St. NW / Washington, D.C.
Two universities are bringing together journalists, researchers, scholars, entrepreneurs, technologists, regulators and the public in Washington, D.C., on May 27 for a "critical convening" on the future and sustainability of journalism and America's newspapers.
"The news about the news is jarring," says Bill Densmore, a fellow at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI). "It includes hearings on Capitol Hill, new ideas about charging for content, services that profoundly affect user privacy, huge business losses among icons of American journalism and thousands of layoffs."
"," is set for Wed., May 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the downtown Washington, D.C., campus of The George Washington University. Topics to be covered include privacy, advertising, personalization and subscription networks for web news and services.
The event is public, but attendance is limited. For required online registration, go to http://www.journalismtrust.org. The George Washington University Inn is providing a special lodging rate for attendees.
"From Gatekeeper to Valet" will include findings from a new national survey tracking consumer attitudes toward privacy commissioned by the Reynolds Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism -- principal organizer of the May 27 event.
The fast-paced, morning briefing and afternoon participatory work and news sessions will be staged in state-of-the-art Jack Morton Auditorium at GWU. All-day registration of $55 includes lunch and refreshments. The gathering is open to the public and more information is at http://www.journalismtrust.org.
Participants will exchange the latest news and ideas about tools, systems and services likely to sustain the values, principles and purposes of independent journalism. Participants will organize briefings on key initiatives and technologies, stage a round of afternoon breakout sessions and then wrap up by considering what's been learned and what next steps are required.
In addition, RJI will describe the planned formation of the Journalism Trust Innovation Engine (JTIA) -- a place, and ideas, around which journalism's supporters can stand up, partner, experiment, leave the gates behind, and begin sharing in a new information commons.
Other event details planned include a strategic overview of news-industry opportunities and challenges and discussion of the Information Valet Project, another Reynolds Institute project.
After lunch, Dr. Lee Wilkins, professor, Missouri School of Journalism, will unveil and comment on findings from a new national survey of public attitudes toward the sharing of private information via the web. Then Missouri graduate student Emily Sussman will document and discuss a 14-year history of efforts to "monetize" news and other web content.
Other briefings will be provided by Charles Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity, one of the earliest non-profit watchdog journalism organizations, and Prof. James Hamilton, of Duke University, an expert on the financing of news.
DETAILS/REGISTRATION: http://www.journalismtrust.org
TWO-PAGE FLYER: http://tinyurl.com/cymuke