Pre-Conference Interviews

1. What meaning did you take from the conversation?

Non-profit issue organizations and non-profit news agencies need to collaborate in the revitalization of the news industry. Their interests converge in that the collapse of the journalism industry has made it difficult for non-profits to get their issues covered adequately (or even at all), while those seeking to create non-profit news sources need financial and organizational resources that non-profits have much greater ease developing. The challenge remains to create a working model for collaboration that retains editorial independence from funders.


    2. Share a standout story or quote for each of you.

Rosalinda creates and oversees local councils that bring often antagonistic groups (farmers and farmworkers, politicians and low-income migrants) together to produce safe housing for migrant farmworkers. The collaborations are pretty remarkable.

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

Finding common cause between the communications challenges of non-profits and the business challenges of the journalism industry.

Amy and I are already acquainted but hadn’t spoken in a while, so it was great to catch up! First, I think we were surprised to note that both of us feel somewhat isolated in our jobs – hers in a nonprofit organization (Washington Low Income Housing Alliance); mine as a radio news producer (Public News Service). We both are hoping for a sense of community and a healthy dose of “greater purpose” in attending the (un)conference. I think it’s cool that Amy is taking the time to learn more about how the news biz works. She sees this get-together as “part of a larger movement,” and wants to know more about what it takes “to make important stories appear.”

We both acknowledge the sometimes-uncomfortable blurring of lines between news and opinion, as well as between reporters and community/nonprofit groups that provide story ideas, and we feel there must be continued separation in order to maintain legitimacy. We also acknowledge that’s getting tougher to do.

The snowboarder and the geek talked about VO2 and why at altitude some people can get by with less oxygen and others falter. They talked

about the 1986 Volvo station wagon and its cultural import in the Northwest. They agreed on this -they both like reading long-form

journalism, and they both like complicated ideas that frequently can't be communicated on a cell phone.

Andrew: I think anything is possible. I'm tired of peope who jump to the conclusion (about death of traditional journalism) that the replacement is going to be all isolating... I don't buy that. The structures and models are changing and will require innovation. ..But we are shifting the discussion to what is helping the audience react and engage with ideas in a more intimate way. There will be more doors to a 2-way conversation.

Sally: I want more places to sell stories about antigens on cancer cells. The public does not know it, but what is going

on in the laboratories of South Lake Union matters politically, culturally as well as scientifically.

The meaning gleaned from our conversation was most likely the same as the fundamental meaning of the whole conference: the vital importance of people from different perspectives connecting and addressing issues, and the rich harvest of ideas and possibilities that comes from such a diverse connection.

Although neither Nancy or I are directly connected with the field of journalism, (at least not anymore!) it was instantly clear we are both deeply concerned about the quality of information the press disseminates, and agree how important it is that a broad spectrum of unbiased ideas and voices be heard.

Nancy's current "bee in the bonnet" is that she is "troubled by the degree journalists are speeding up the general cynicism for the government." She cited as an example a recent joke cracked by NPR Weekend Edition host, Scott Simon: "How do you address a former felon?" Answer: Senator. Nancy points out, "I think journalists are not being self-critical enough. They are not aware of how they are contributing to the problem."  

Cate would like to see "direct channels of information to all levels of government develop, so that individual and group innovations in areas such as drug abuse, poverty, education, economics etc. can get to the right people so that effective programs they can be implemented on a broad scale."