Did you see the headline (above) on page B-7 of the San Francisco Chronicle, yesterday? It was also featured in today’s Benton’s Communications-Related Headlines (6-8-07).
It also relates to my recent blogs, posted under the Our Cyberplace category. Check out the following on Petaluma360:
Our Cyberplace #49 – Citizen e-journalism, a + or – (2-01-07)
Our Cyberplace #50 – Innovation & Transformation (2-27-07)
Our Cyberplace #51 – Breaking the News (3-31-07)
Now, we read statements by Dan Gillmor, Director of the Center for Citizen Media, that relate to this concern about the future of journalism:
“The same technologies that are distributing the news industry are offering unprecedented opportunities for creating a more diverse, and ultimately more vibrant, journalistic ecosystem.”
“I believe newspapers have filled an important role in our communities -. We can all agree that good journalism and information are among the bedrocks of a self-governed and progressive culture.”
“Most blogging and other citizen media aren’t journalism. So what? Neither is most writing on paper, most photography, most video or most anything else.”
“Let’s work to keep the best of traditional media.”
“The journalistic ecosystem could end up healthier in the end, if we get this right.”
“What’s coming won’t be the responsibility of just a few companies or nonprofits. It’ll be up to all of us. We will get this right, if we try.”
Yes, I know; all these quotes are taken out of context. Take time to read Dan’s entire Open Forum article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/06/07/EDGGTP3FOE1.DTL
Just like Dan, you might say, “So what? What does this have to do with our community – Petaluma?” IMHO, it’s worthy of additional conversations, face-to-face, around a table – just like we used to do, starting in 1995 with the formation of PetalumaNet and the Petaluma CyberCity Roundtable in 1998. Perhaps these conversations, involving bloggers, journalists (both professional and amateur), plus any other interested Petalumans can use “Meet Up” as our means of announcing the time and place for such dialogues.
If you are interested in being on the list of folks to notify, please e-mail your name & e-mail address to me – directly at – whammer@petalumanet.org
We will try and get our PCCR revived within the next 30 days. Don’t delay, do it now!