the wired city
DESCRIPTION
"The Wired City: Reimagining Journalism and Civic Life," by Dan Kennedy, will be published in May 2013 by University of Massachusetts Press. For more information, please visit http://thewiredcity.org.TRANSCRIPT
The Wired City
Reimagining Journalism and Civic Life in the Post-Newspaper Age
Why do we need new models?
• The Internet broke the connection between ads and journalism
Why do we need new models?
• The Internet broke the connection between ads and journalism
• Civic engagement ison the decline in our highly mobile society
Why do we need new models?
• The Internet broke the connection between ads and journalism
• Civic engagement ison the decline in our highly mobile society
• Twin challenges: $$$ and reaching out to “the former audience”
Have you seen the Globe today?
• New York Times Co. will sell it for a fraction of what it paid in 1993
Have you seen the Globe today?
• New York Times Co. will sell it for a fraction of what it paid in 1993
• Moving from 80% of revenues coming from ads to a 50-50 split
Have you seen the Globe today?
• New York Times Co. will sell it for a fraction of what it paid in 1993
• Moving from 80% of revenues coming from ads to a 50-50 split
• Too high a paywall risks cutting off Globe from huge online audience
A golden age comes to an end
• From 1830s to 2005, newspapers enjoyed advertising dominance
A golden age comes to an end
• From 1830s to 2005, newspapers enjoyed advertising dominance
• A.J. Liebling on monopoly papers: “good, better, bestest”
A golden age comes to an end
• From 1830s to 2005, newspapers enjoyed advertising dominance
• A.J. Liebling on monopoly papers: “good, better, bestest”
• Philip Meyer: The Lords of Savoy no longer control the toll gate
The decline of civic engagement
• In “Bowling Alone,” Putnam tied civic life to newspaper reading
The decline of civic engagement
• In “Bowling Alone,” Putnam tied civic life to newspaper reading
• If the public doesn’t care, then journalismis endangered
The decline of civic engagement
• In “Bowling Alone,” Putnam tied civic life to newspaper reading
• If the public doesn’t care, then journalismis endangered
• News organizations must create their own involved publics
What is to be done?
• Clay Shirky warns that no one thing will replace newspapers
What is to be done?
• Clay Shirky warns that no one thing will replace newspapers
• What may make up for some of the loss:– Nonprofit media– New forms of for-profit– Volunteer media
What is to be done?
• Clay Shirky warns that no one thing will replace newspapers
• “The Wired City” takes a look at:– Nonprofit media– New forms of for-profit– Volunteer media
What is to be done?
• Clay Shirky warns that no one thing will replace newspapers
• “The Wired City” takes a look at:– Nonprofit media– New forms of for-profit– Volunteer media
What is to be done?
• Clay Shirky warns that no one thing will replace newspapers
• “The Wired City” takes a look at:– Nonprofit media– New forms of for-profit– Volunteer media
Trouble in New Haven
• New Haven Register’s parent companygoes bankrupt
Trouble in New Haven
• New Haven Register’s parent companygoes bankrupt
• An urban, mostly minority community with few news options
Trouble in New Haven
• New Haven Register’s parent companygoes bankrupt
• An urban, mostly minority community with few news options
• What alternatives are there when the marketplace fails?
Technology for journalists
A new model that’s working
• New Haven Independent is nonprofit, online-only, supported by donors
A new model that’s working
• New Haven Independent is nonprofit, online-only, supported by donors
• Staff of four travels city on bikes with cameras and notebooks
A new model that’s working
• New Haven Independent is nonprofit, online-only, supported by donors
• Staff of four travels city on bikes with cameras and notebooks
• Focus on city life, moderated comments create new public square
Strengths of the Independent
• Founder and editorPaul Bass isn’t relianton a shrinking ad base
Strengths of the Independent
• Founder and editorPaul Bass isn’t relianton a shrinking ad base
• Online-only format means costs are low
Strengths of the Independent
• Founder and editorPaul Bass isn’t relianton a shrinking ad base
• Online-only format means costs are low
• Hyperlocal content and two-way conversation build civic engagement
Weaknesses of the Independent
• Small readership compared to theNew Haven Register
Weaknesses of the Independent
• Small readership compared to theNew Haven Register
• Uncertain funding in future years
Weaknesses of the Independent
• Small readership compared to theNew Haven Register
• Uncertain funding in future years
• Lack of print presence may exclude residents who are less engaged
The Register’s uncertain comeback
• Under John Paton, parent company JRC embraces “Digital First”
The Register’s uncertain comeback
• Under John Paton, parent company JRC embraces “Digital First”
• New Register editor Matt DeRienzo reaches out to community
The Register’s uncertain comeback
• Under John Paton, parent company JRC embraces “Digital First”
• New Register editor Matt DeRienzo reaches out to community
• Bankruptcy II: A new beginning, or the beginning of the end?
Other nonprofit media
• Connecticut Mirror fills gap left by decline of the Hartford Courant
Other nonprofit media
• Connecticut Mirror fills gap left by decline of the Hartford Courant
• Voice of San Diego is a reliable alternative to the shaky metro daily
Other nonprofit media
• Connecticut Mirror fills gap left by decline of the Hartford Courant
• Voice of San Diego is a reliable alternative to the shaky metro daily
• NPR is the quality news organization of choice for tens of millions
Limits to the nonprofit model
• Foundations tendto give money foronly a few years
Limits to the nonprofit model
• Foundations tendto give money foronly a few years
• IRS put a halt to approving nonprofit status for news sites
Limits to the nonprofit model
• Foundations tendto give money foronly a few years
• IRS put a halt to approving nonprofit status for news sites
• Nonprofit news organizations can’t endorse candidates
New forms of for-profit news
• Christine Stuart’sCT News Junkie covers Connecticut politics
New forms of for-profit news
• Christine Stuart’sCT News Junkie covers Connecticut politics
• Howard Owens launched The Batavian as a demo project
New forms of for-profit news
• Christine Stuart’sCT News Junkie covers Connecticut politics
• Howard Owens launched The Batavian as a demo project
• Debbie Galant started Baristanet after losing her N.Y. Times column
Limits to the for-profit model
• Digital dimes replace print dollars, reducing the scope of coverage
Limits to the for-profit model
• Digital dimes replace print dollars, reducing the scope of coverage
• Patch is struggling, but with AOL’s support manages to stay alive
Limits to the for-profit model
• Digital dimes replace print dollars, reducing the scope of coverage
• Patch is struggling, but with AOL’s support manages to stay alive
• Few have range of skills needed to handle journalism and business
What’s next?
• Tom Stites devised the Banyan Project to foster the rise of news co-ops
What’s next?
• Tom Stites devised the Banyan Project to foster the rise of news co-ops
• Members would give money and/or labor, as with a food co-op
What’s next?
• Tom Stites devised the Banyan Project to foster the rise of news co-ops
• Members would give money and/or labor, as with a food co-op
• Banyan is launching a pilot in 2013 to be called Haverhill Matters
About the book
• “The Wired City: Reimagining Journalism and Civic Life in the Post-Newspaper Age” will be published in May 2013 by University of Massachusetts Press
• Copyright © 2013 by Dan Kennedy• For more information, please visit:
thewiredcity.org
Dan KennedyMarch 2013
Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA 02115
Some images in this presentation may be protected by copyright. If you would like credit, or if you would prefer that your image be removed, please contact Dan Kennedy at da dot kennedy at neu dot edu.