Are you an independent blogger writing about public affairs, government news, community issues? Not necessarily exclusively, but at least in part?
If so, my question is: Instead of just complaining about and commenting on the decline of news, what can independent bloggers can do via cooperation and sharing of ideas, resources, and skills, that will increase our collective ability to produce or support original news reporting and investigations?
I know that we’re all used to doing our own thing, but a bit of mutual aid couldn’t hurt.
For example, I subscribe to a data service that allows me to search for real estate or businesses linked to a particular person or company. It’s the kind of data that are essential for backgrounding a person or business. I could share access in order to help other bloggers pursue tips or develop stories.
Perhaps others with a better grasp of the intricacies of WordPress could help the rest of of understand how to better customize the appearance and functioning of our blogs.
Maybe you’ve gotten tips or heard rumors that could be important but you don’t have time or resources to pursue. Can we work out sharing arrangements that allow a team to pursue them?
If you’re an independent blogger interested in taking part in such brainstorming, or are interested in starting this kind of blog, just send me an email with indicating your interest [ian(at)ilind.net]. Please include a phone number and Skype name, if available.
I’ll get back to you with the names of everyone who expresses an interest, as well as a couple of suggested first “baby steps”.
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Great idea, Ian. Would be nice also to have a site that aggregates local blog headlines in categories. I wonder also if an existing print publication like the Honolulu Weekly, might also be interested in highlighting blog coverage in a weekly highlights section or something.
Happy to contribute however I can, Ian. Count me in on at least the technical and web side. Community outreach (reporter-hosts?) as well.
I’ve eagerly participated in dozens of brainstorming sessions on how “we” can do news and blogging better, some with you, some back in the “SOS” days. There’ve been sessions on “the new news” at every conference I’ve attended or organized. Lots of great ideas, an overabundance of opinions, but as always, a lack of time, energy, and money to make anything happen.
I know at least one grassroots initiative was even plotting a grant application. There are programs out there now trying to foster local citizen journalism initiatives
I held onto HawaiiNews.com as long as I could in case the perfect model or team presented itself. I still have a few domains that might be worthwhile.
One caveat: any such initiative will live and die by the credibility and ethics of its participants. Anyone can start a blog, but I hope you’ve a plan in mind to aim a little higher than the lowest common denominator.
This is a great idea, Ian. I’ll be dropping you an e-mail expressing my interest.
I’m in, Ian.
Aloha,
Tiff Edwards Hunt
This may well be the future of independent journalism. Would readers be willing to pony up $5/month voluntary subscription to support a network of public affairs blogs? I would like to think so–the diversity would offer a lot of “value” and the readers would “know” the individuals. That doesn’t sound like a lot of money but in the blogosphere *any* revenue stream makes a big difference to the content-creators. That said, I would sign up for a $5/month subscription to such a network of Hawaii bloggers. Hopefully I wouldn’t be alone.
I don’t have anything to contribute to this project, but I’m excited to see where this leads.
-r-
is this not the sort of thing that our “community media” provider should be doing with their 6 million plus annual budget? 😉
Happy World Press Freedom Day
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/press/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQZw_7XqzPQ
I’ll help with what I can with what time I have now.
I’m sure some folks at http://fbiblogs.com would probably like to contribute to something like this as well.
Right on, Ian!
The Hawaii Independent would like to help as well, and we have a revenue model which can support this effort. This is very important, and we believe in it wholeheartedly.
Ikaika
I’m interested. I’d love to foster a tech and science community on an independent news/blog site. There’s quite a bit of ideas floating around, the tricky part is implementation. Let’s go for it!
This sounds great. While not a news blogger per se, I do write about local interests sometimes.
Your blog, which I just discovered, is impressive. I’ll be following you to see where this goes.