Ima-atlanta

Running notes from Bill Densmore on Saturday morning's panel at the Public Media Conference, 2009, in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009:

Kinsey Wilson, of National Public Radio, formerly from USAToday, is talking about what it's been like moving over to radio. He is building on some of the points that Vivian Schiller made yesterday.

NPR's Wilson makes four points

Four points:

• He was struct by optimistism and the sense of vision at NPR, in stark contrast to what is experienced at many commercial newsrooms, including newspapers.

• Now its all about creating networks of passionate users. NPR's isn't fully realized yet. Quality of comments are extraordinary on the NPR site. Lot's of comments between people.

• They have diversified revenue sources, and that is a source of envy as the ad market shrinks. But they are largely dependent on corporate underwriting in digital media and that is a cause for concern.

• He thinks there is an extraordinary opportunity to become a significant if not dominate source of news in local markets.

The seven or eight advantages over newspapers

The seven or eight advantages over newspapers:

• Barriers to entry have fallen
• Big newspapers are saddled with legacy web systems
• NPR affiliates produce the best audio content at a point where mobile is becoming dominant
• As newspapers collapse "and they will" in certain markets, there will be a window.
• Reporters will be cast off and looking for work. There will be a moment to capture them.
• They can promote what they do on air
• Already news organizations devoted to public service "and have that in our blood."