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Live Blog from the Knight Commission on Community Information

Knight Commission on Community Information

(09/08/2008)
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10:43

Hello. I'm joining in the middle of the first panel at the community meeting.

10:44

The agenda, panelists and background can be found here:
http://www.knightcomm.org/community-forum-agenda-september-8-2008-0

10:46

So far, there's been a lot of talk about the role of libraries as an asset in the future of community of information.

10:46

Chava Bustamente, SEIU organizer, says it's hard to think about civic engagement when you working three jobs, or commuting two hours each way to work.

10:48

Commission member Ken: Makes the observation is that to get community info to people, there needs to be an intermediary. Options: journalists, community organizers, and possibly government. Information is not enough. Need someone to make that information meaningful and brings it home.

10:51

Panelist Judy Nadler: We need to get people involved. When people get involved, they get knowledge.

10:52

Emmett Carson, panelist, Says in Silicon Valley, they've been trying to use the media to build community, because there's not a lot here. People come here from other places. Or they work a lot, and so not connected to the community. The time they have for civic engagement is low.

10:54

Result: People worry about themselves, and their family. But not collectively. For instance, they worry about finding a school for their kid, but not necessarily about the broader issue of public education. He wants media to create a commonality. New outlets tend to be more personal, rather than thinking about commonality.

10:55

Silicon Valley is hyper connected, but fragmented. People scan, but don't dive deep into community information. How can we use old and new outlets to build community?

10:56

Commission member: There seems to be a tension between the need to have a central organizing entity for news. But these creates shortcoming in resources and control.

10:57

But new media also creates frustration. Too niche. It seems there needs to be a way to combine the two in a hybrid.

10:57

Let's get away from dichotomy of old vs. news. Let's figure out a way to integrate the two in a harmonious way.

10:59

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
The central organizing entity is the person. Each must think for self. Integrate does not mean pre-chewed.

11:01

Community member asking question. Someone working with Generation Engage.

11:04

He notes that people are developing shorter attention spans in general. Question: How do you create a space that utilizes the knowledge of civic savvy people and connect them with people who are disadvantaged or don't have access. Â

11:04

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
Do unto others as you do to self means you can't help others unless your able to help & sustain self. Folks need to help self first. Then community if one is stable / grounded.

11:07

Doug Carmichael, at Stanford in Media X, which looks at intersection between news and technology.

11:08

Says there is a disconnect. Solution is not more information. But rather how to bring big ideas into conversation to bring people together.

11:08

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
Disadvantaged folks are hungry - for food, not community engagement. Create the space by starting with free food, shower, rest, then a wire or two.

11:10

Judy on panel: Yes, but people still need small information that hits their interest an personal ives.

11:11

Matt Hammer: Some info on schools, but not enough information on the broader educational issues. Â Harder to get people to get involved in that policy conversation.

11:11

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
If you want engagement, then call for a "binding vote." Nothing works better than serious democracy.

11:13

Panelist Muhammed: When I look at the big issues, education policy is important to big companies. But on the micro level, the problem in learning may be that a kid has toothache.

11:13

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
Elites may think parents don't understand. Ivory Tower crap. Smaller classrooms are understood - so deliver smaller classrooms, darn it.

11:14

Panelist Kim Walesh: People in civic level need to do a better job framing issues so that people get involved.

11:17

Peter Shane asks: Do you think local residents have an accurate picture of the Valley, or do they distort it?

11:18

Emmett: No, they don't ahve a similar picture. Commutes are long. You exist in multiple communities. .

11:19

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
Big issue for me: "freedom." Put that on the table. Liberty. Democracy w serious votes.

11:19

[Comment From Mark Rauterkus]
Columbus, Ohio: Picture of community: Buckeye = hairless nut of little worth. Gosh. Get the hook. Gov does not want to frame Qs. Wants to retain power by FUD.

11:21

Emmett: I think we're in a free for all. No one is setting the agenda. We can't validate the people putting out information. Can I trust it? Can I verify it?

11:25

Luther Jackson, president of San Jose newspaper guild. Economic viability is a key issues that hasn't been discussed. What can the community do to support a healthier newspaper?

11:27

Emmett: I would say, people don't like to pay for anything. We want a quality news outlet, but no one wants to pay for it. How do you make news a public good? If advertising isn't coming back, then what? Foundation's can't cover it forever. So it has to be a public good.

11:27

In other parts of the world, news is funded as a public good.

11:27

How long can community groups subsidize content?

11:28

Emerging content creators also don't have model. We have to get away from addiction of free content.

11:30

Commission member Mike: Is it valuable enough for society to pay for its a continued existence. In US, there is a first amendment problem. Do you get government involved in organizing? There's a lot of distrust in gov't in this country.

11:31

Okay: We're breaking for lunch. Next panel is at 12:45: Roundtable on Media.

11:32