Commentary
One of the best things that has come out of the futurist vision for journalism has been the idea of the “information needs of communities” — a bland, technocratic but ruthless turn of phrase, full of demands and expectations. Demands for information enfranchisement. Expectations of equal access, and of relevance. Yet information inequity is persistent […]
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Nonprofit journalism — and in particular its public-interest practice in neglected and marginalized communities — is critically underfunded, and journalists and their advocates are in a great position to lead systemic change.
Read MoreAmidst the news industry’s many challenges, and the hopeful flowering of a new nonprofit-news movement, the low position of public-interest news reporting in the charitable ecosystem is a troubling puzzle.
It also speaks poorly of our cultural and democratic priorities. Billions are spent on media that sell and influence, producing messages that serve vested political and commercial interests — yet the room sure clears out fast when the conversation turns to the topic of paying for public-interest journalism.
Read MoreIn which a vision of the future creates drought and desiccation in the present. Let’s talk about metaphors. “The future of journalism,” for example. It packs a punch! It’s powerful and inspiring, suggesting continuity and achievement. The past — gears, ink and union pressmen. The future — mobile media, apps and seamless user experiences. The […]
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Pivot to the Intention Economy
When it comes to civic media, the attention economy is not adequate to the task of serving the unmet information needs of neglected communities. An intention economy can address this shortcoming.
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