Mediag at 16:46, 28 January 2007

2007-01-28T16:46:43Z

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===A few observations amid continental breakfast and posting sessions===

''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.''

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.

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?

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?"

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.

Len Witt -- The feeling is, "You don't understand my community really well."

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?"

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NEXT: Developing ideas for breakout sessions.

<hr>[http://www.mediagiraffe.org/wiki/index.php/Memphis-friday READ SESSION NOTES]
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Memphis-friday-start - Revision history

Mediag at 16:46, 28 January 2007