Can Free Media Sustain Democracy

Discussants: Barry Parr, Coastsider.com; John Byrne, RawStory.com; Jeremy Iggers, Twin Cities Media Alliance; Charles Lewis, Center for Public Integrity; David Beers, The Tyee; and Staci Kramer, PaidContent.org (not shown in photo above).

Traditional news organizations are banking on advertising to support their web-news efforts. But as print/broadcast revenues and audiences shrink, will web advertising alone support newsrooms? Is that a problem for democracy? What other funding options are possible? Experts who have considered the issue for a decade forecast the future and listen to summit participants’ predictions, needs and initiatives. Convener: Peter Krasilovsky, Krasilovsky Consulting; discussants: Charles Lewis, Center for Public Integrity; Barry Parr, Coastsider.com; David Beers, The Tyee; John Byrne, RawStory.com; Jeremy Iggers, Twin Cities Media Alliance and Staci Kramer, PaidContent.org.