Journalism professor receives grant to launch innovative online community news project
A Kennesaw State University journalism scholar’s brainchild – community−funded online news…
Georgia (Feb 22, 2008) — Journalism professor receives grant to launch innovative online community news project
Sabbaye McGriff
Abstract
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Frances Weyand Harrison
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Contact/Writer: Sabbaye McGriff‚ 678−797−2550 or smcgrif1@kennesaw.edu
Journalism professor receives grant to launch innovative online community news project
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (Feb. 22‚ 2008) – A Kennesaw State University journalism scholar’s brainchild
– community−funded online news media – will soon take form with the help of a recent
grant from the Harnisch Family Foundation and a collaboration with a Minnesota−based
online news community.
The foundation’s $51‚000 grant will fund a trial run of a concept called “representative
journalism” that envisions communities funding journalists who deliver Web−based‚
local and topical news.
Leonard Witt‚ KSU’s Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication‚ recently
began sharing his idea on his blog (PJNet.org). His writings caught the attention of Ruth Ann Harnisch‚ the foundation’s president
and a former journalist who encouraged Witt and helped advance the concept.
“The Harnisch Family Foundation is delighted to provide the financial resources needed
for the first test of this concept‚” Harnisch said. “From the first time I heard about
representative journalism and read Leonard Witt ideas in his blog‚ I was eager to
help launch it. Len’s idea has the potential to revolutionize the practice of journalism‚
especially as American journalism struggles with the loss of its advertising support
base.”
Witt is launching the project in Northfield‚ Minn.‚ on “Locally Grown‚” an interactive
Weblog and podcast with a large participatory following of area residents and community
leaders. Griff Wigley‚ one of its managers‚ is considered a pioneer in online community
building.
Also joining Witt in the test project will be Chris Peck‚ editor of The Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial Appeal‚ who will act as a part−time editorial consultant. William Densmore‚ founder of the
Media Giraffe project at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst‚ will provide
administrative support and oversight.
The key question the organizers hope to answer is: How can a community work together
to develop a system that funds journalists who provide news and information that meets
the community’s specific information needs and desires?
“In the past‚ advertising paid the lion’s share of the news and information delivered
to a community‚” Witt noted. “Those days are waning.”
If the Minnesota project succeeds‚ Witt envisions a representative journalism center
that will be a full−service hub enabling groups‚ institutions‚ communities or individuals
to underwrite their own journalists.
“This is social networking applied to news−gathering and sharing‚” says Witt. “The
center will provide everything communities need to have their own journalists‚ while
at the same time protecting journalistic integrity and ensuring communities high−quality
journalism.”
A member of the 35−unit University System of Georgia‚ Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population of more than 20‚000 from 132 countries. The third−largest university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new doctorate in education.
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
