Boldness, courage and change

The Knight Foundation seminar wrapped up with talk of boldness and courage; civic catalysts and change.

I heard people talk about responsibility of news organizations and the gaps in local news that exist across the country.

And there was a lot of discussion about solutions. (Here is the Knight blog with video from the breakout sessions.)

One issue discussed by a couple of people is the lack of broadband coverage. Most of the projects funded by the Knight Foundation center on Web-based dissemination of information (here is a list of the projects). More than one person called access to broadband the divide in America's two-class system. 

I think more access to broadband internet in Wisconsin Rapids can better educate, inform, and connect the folks in the area. It is something that needs to be a priority, simple as that. (the FCC has an outreach program.)

We also have to provide more information and connect with more people. During a session this morning, the group was studying The Forum from New Hampshire. This little, home-brewed start up has filled gaps in local news coverage with volunteers: moms and dads, friends, and family. After the first year, they reported an huge increase in contested elections. Considering the number of uncontested races in Wood County, we have a lot of work to do.

There are hurdles; yet there are people willing to make the leap.

Gwen Ifill recap

Kristin Taylor of the Knight Foundation has been diligently blogging and recording video from this weeks conference. 

Check out her vid of Gwen Ifill's conference-opening remarks

One day down, a million to go

Entering Day 2 at the Knight Foundation seminar in Miami, my thoughts are in Wisconsin Rapids.

Yesterday was a blur. Knight is funding 21 community foundations (including Wisconsin Rapids) across the country each with a task of helping citizens lead more informed lives (although the projects have a different scope). 

How are they going to do it?

How are we going to do it?

After the first day, I don't know. But I know it needs to be done.

News is important to a democracy, without a doubt. But the importance of local news to a community has never been greater.

Without getting all teary-eyed and philosophical, I hope when we look up a year or 18 months from now, people are better informed with what can affect their lives. And their lives are better for it.

video from Miami

Knight folks put up a video from the Media Learning Seminar. Check out some of the speakers:

Keynote speakers and photos from Miami

Gwen Ifill was awesome. Down to earth and honest in her words. 

Here she is with Mrs. Wisconsin Rapids, Helen Jungwirth.

Some highlights:

Jessie Jackson is cool with his son practicing different politics than his son.

She broke her ankle two days before the VP debate and let the critisism about her in progress book vs. ability to objectively moderate the debate roll right off her back.

Follow the official conference blog

Breakfast at the Biltmore

 Looking over my shoulder as I am eating breakfast at the Biltmore Hotel, which is the host to the Knight Foundation conference. We are here to learn about nonprofit philanthropy supported newspapering. 

Mojitos, mojo and motivation

When I first arrived at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami for the Knight Foundation training conference (it's all for the Community News 2.0 thangy), Helen Jungwirth spotted me, hugged my neck and bought me a mojito.

The drink was nice but I adore my former boss and the former publisher of the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

We sat beside one of the country's largest swimming pool and talked about the importance of news at the small communities. 

We think Community News 2.0 is the answer, but that answer won't come for months or maybe a year. 

Instead of just putting together a newspaper and sending it off to press, we intend to spend the next couple of months learning about the gaps in local news coverage.