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“To start Friday’s gathering at the Memphis Cotton Museum, our circle convened — initially some 32 of us — and kicked around random observations about the night before — the sharing of goals and concerns at the Marriott meeting room on Thursday afternoon, dinner at Chris Peck’s home and the four-person “Samoan circle” dialog.”<\/p>\n
Stephen Silha and others noted that older journalists are a resource who can serve as mentors to citizen journalists, rather than stepping out of the way. <\/p>\n
Bill Densmore noted that we are in a unique moment in history where post-War baby boomers, many of whom still have solid pensions, are retiring and have time on their hands. For a decade or more, they may be a resource. How do we use them in the service of journalism? <\/p>\n
Karen Magnuson reflected on Thursday’s afternoon and evening gatherings, observing, “My aha moment was how much I don’t know … as a working editor.” She wonders: “Whoa, who are these people (reformers) so angry with us?”<\/p>\n
Neil Ralston — He has the sense that many citizens are turned off to the news because it doesn’t reflect the reality of their lives. “We need to have a little more of our good news behind and start listening to other people’s good news.” The focus needs to be: My child, my street, my neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Len Witt — The feeling is, “You don’t understand my community really well.”<\/p>\n
Aldon Hynes — “Everyone wants to be heard, no one wants to listen.” Hynes recalls his experience helping with the web operations of the Dean presidential campaign, and Dean’s monto: “You have the power.” As he grew up, for Hynes, the monto was more, “Father Knows Best,” and father was Walter Cronkite. “The question is: Who [in the media] is going to stand up and tell people, ‘The biggest lie is we have the power.’ And tell people they have the power?”<\/p>\n
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\nNEXT: Developing ideas for breakout sessions. <\/p>\n