NewsTools Interviews

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Comment by Peggy Holman on April 26, 2008 at 3:40pm

1. What meaning did you take from the interview process?

Talking with Betsy Densmore was a treat! It confirmed the value of connecting with someone else prior to the conference. As I listened to what caught her interest – a chance to be in a conversational setting with journalists and technologists; an interest in how the Internet can make far more visible the work of governments and nonprofits – it helped me get clearer on my desires for the gathering. I see this as an opportunity to engage the many diverse players who have an interest in media and democracy to mix their skills together in creative ways. Betsy’s work with amplifying the effectiveness of nonprofits reinforced why this is so important.

2. Please share a standout story or quote.

I was struck by two counterpoint quotes from Betsy. The first reflects the declining influence of newspapers while the second speaks to the potential of the emerging new media:

I realized that I have looked to major newspapers for attention and credibility. I still tend to look there even though I’m clear they’re less and less able to really do that with integrity.
...

There’s a new capacity for sharing information and getting people aligned around a point of view that hasn’t been there before. This gives rise to the possibility of organizing.

Betsy added that we’ll see what happens with that potential, but it is certainly something that wasn’t possible even five years ago.

3. What surprised, challenged, inspired, and/or delighted you about the interview?

I entered the interview with a sense of duty and found a kindred spirit! Knowing that someone else values conversation as a force for creative change was quite affirming. Having been involved with Journalism that Matters from the beginning has enabled me to see a new story of journalism unfolding before my eyes. Talking with Betsy reinforced the need for me to tell that story. Here’s a snippet:

As legacy media struggles with its changing role and new media seeks its place in the landscape, the power of story to serve healthy communities and democracy provides common ground between them. News Tools 2008 provides great potential for exploring that synergy. And whatever the media, I’m seeing a shift in the nature of storytelling that I’d describe as “possibility journalism”. Particularly in challenging situations, asking some form of the question, “Given what’s happened, what’s possible now?” follows the energy of a story into its nascent edges of hope. In doing so, rather than ending a story in despair, it offers its audience inspiration and the potential to engage – a useful place to land for serving communities and democracy!

Comment by Stephen Silha on April 21, 2008 at 10:58pm

Hmmm... looking forward to the Golden Age of the Internet! Thanks for that, Tom.