On October 6-9, 2005, twenty-nine people in journalism (print, broadcast, new media, citizen activists, educators, a student, a funder and a Wall Street analyst) convened at the Fetzer Institute\u2019s Seasons Retreat Center to consider the future of journalism.<\/p>\n
The gathering was filled with rich, multi-textured, and creative conversations.\u00a0\u00a0Personal shifts\u00a0from despair to hope occurred for many participants.\u00a0 Most left the gathering with tangible actions to pursue as several\u00a0promising projects\u00a0emerged.\u00a0 Perhaps most exciting, an innovative idea for creating a new style of newsroom, populated by a mix of professional and grassroots journalists, was born.\u00a0 Given the clear commitment among key participants to pursue this idea, this was a particularly specific and potentially useful outcome.<\/p>\n
Successful with journalists,\u00a0the process itself\u00a0(self-organizing, primarily using Open Space Technology) is a model for people in other sectors who wish to convene gatherings that produce a clear path for action.\u00a0 Its effectiveness originates from its integral nature, simultaneously engaging\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026the inner, authentic presence of participants and<\/p>\n
\u2026their outer, professional selves;<\/p>\n
\u2026the inner stories that form the \u201cmaster narrative\u201d of a culture, and<\/p>\n
\u2026the outer activities of collective daily life.<\/p>\n
While detailed reports written by the participants provide texture and depth, some themes that surfaced include:<\/p>\n
On October 6-9, 2005, twenty-nine people in journalism (print, broadcast, new media, citizen activists, educators, a student, a funder and a Wall Street analyst) convened at the Fetzer Institute\u2019s Seasons Retreat Center to consider the future of journalism. The gathering … Continue reading