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THE NEW(S) ENGLAND REVOLUTION: From Politics to Courtroom to Classroom

Wannalancit Mill entrance

A one-day interactive seminar for up to 200 teachers, journalists, local and political bloggers, community videographers, public advocates and active citizens exploring how changing media is changing civic engagement. Featured luncheon speaker: Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas. There will be free wireless Internet for all participants who bring a laptop. AN INVITATION.

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REGISTER RIGHT NOW . . . SEE WHO'S SIGNED UP. . . WHO'S SPEAKING?

Limited space. Online registration $28 ($10 / students) / $40 at the door . . . all including box lunch (includes one-year support of New England News Forum).

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT LOWELL / Wannalancit Mills, 650 Suffolk St.
Saturday, April 7, 2007, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

In the last year, America’s major media organizations have chopped jobs and embraced the Internet; they have debated the meaning of journalism, and journalists. A video blogger-journalist has been jailed and others subpoenaed. In New England citizens are becoming reporters, like pamphleteers. They are writing at local online news websites and vigorously debating politics online. Governments are learning how to connect with citizens via the web and multimedia technology. Meanwhile, teachers and students are unsure of how to connect in the classroom with this vital stew of new and evolving media.

On Saturday, April 7, the New England News Forum invites teachers, journalists, bloggers and active citizens to share ideas and hopes for our new media stew during a one-day interactive seminar at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. Designed to involve every participant in dialog, "The New(s) England Revolution" will include circle-round discussion, speak-outs, a keynote talk, plenary panel and end-of-day summation. We'll emphasize networking across disciplines and communities.

Come to Lowell -- a showcase of the first industrial revolution -- to consider the growth of an information-age revolution in the way we conduct participatory democracy. It's the inaugural public event of the The New England News Forum, based at the UMass Amherst campus -- a collaboration among journalists, educators and the public to inspire active citizenship through discussion and spotlighting of media issues. The most important discussion you have may not be with a headlined speaker or convenor, but with the person from another state or another town, in a different profession, who will unexpectedly share with you a special tool or tip for making media or government work better.

NEAR-FINAL SCHEDULE (but keep checking for updates)

8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.-- Pre-convening for facilitators / die-hards (Room 203)

An optional, informal reception/discussion for event facilitators, panelists and die-hard participants able to arrive first thing in the morning. Topic: What are the burning issues facing community journalism and civic engagement? An agenda-setting session.

8:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. -- Registration/ coffee/ tea / networking (Room 202)

Networking and registration among participants. Go to sections of the gathering space and adjacent rooms to link up with participants interested in specific topics including:

Room 203 -- Integrating news and current events in secondary-school classrooms
Room 205 -- Citizen blogging of community affairs and politics
Room 206 -- Defining journalism and the rights/roles of the journalist
Room 204 -- Assessing the quality of news

Starting at 9 a.m., convenors of the 9:30 a.m. concurrent sessions will be in their rooms so that you can have a chance to check-in with all presenters, not just the session you plan to join at 9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. -- Breakout discussion sessions (roundtable format) (Second Floor)

Four sessions, led by convening experts, but arranged as much as possible by room logistics in a circle-round format with structured discussion among participants. Each session will begin with one or more propositions and end with a convenor's summary statement and proposed 'next steps' Remember: It's not an either/or proposition. After the main session, you can move at 10:30 a.m. to a session you missed and "get a fill" from the faciltator -- sort of an after-class briefing.

ONE -- A rising voice: Blogs as news in communities and politics, and how should traditional media be involved? -- (Room 202) -- Discussants -- Lisa Williams, www.H2OTown.info; Steve Garfield, Rocketboom.com; and Howard Owens, GatehouseMedia. Traditional news organizations are struggling to work out their relationship with bloggers and Internet-enabled creators of news. Williams is a local blogger, Garfield an expert on multimedia and video news; and Owens heads digital media operations for the group which owns most the weeklies surrounding Boston.

TWO -- The blogger as journalist: Making new law and definitions -- (Room 203) -- Facilitators: Dan Kennedy (MediaNation), Christine Stuart (CTNewsJunkie.com), Robert Cox, Media Bloggers Assn. Is a journalist a curator? Authenticator? Convenor? FOOD FOR THOUGHT

THREE -- Letting the public into the newsroom: Joining, shaping the conversation -- (Room 204)-- Facilitators -- Mike LaBonte / Rory O'Connor (Newstrust hosts); Jon Greenberg, New Hampshire Public Radio; Steve Fox, NewAssignment.net and Public Insight Journalism); Patrick Marx, consultant. READING: Cole Campbell's vision of journalism that matters.

FOUR -- Building business networks: Resources and tools for New Engand -- (Room 206) -- Facilitators -- William Mass (UMass-Lowell, Center for Industrial Competitiveness); Tish Grier, Easthampton, Mass., free-lance writer and social-media consultant. What are New England businesses doing to take their brands beyond the neighborhood? A tutorial session on ideas for use of social media, new information tools, demographic resources, broadband networks and wifi for regional economic development.

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. -- Coffee/tea/exchange break (Room 202)

Participants can get coffee, mingle informally, or move from their 10:30 a.m. breakout location to one of the other three breakout locations, where 9:30 a.m. facilitors will remain for conversation and to summarize discussion and findings. ALSO: A board to post impromptu gathering locations for networking during the afternooon networking period.

11 a.m.-noon -- SESSION ONE -- Journalism That Matters -- Examples from the front (Room 206)

Submit your examples of "journalism that matters" to editor@newenglandnews.org, then join this session as we present capsule case-studies of the best half-dozen examples or more from New England. Learn about cases where citizens and journalists have worked together to produce news, information and insight that moves a community in a positive direction. Facilitator: Eesha Williams, author, "Grassroots Journalism."

11 a.m.-noon -- SESSION TWO -- Teaching That Matters -- Putting civic education back in the classroom (Room 203)

What's going on -- what should be going on -- in New England's schools? A best-practices sharing session among the region's educators -- and students. Can real-world issues be a part of every class? Should they? How much do high schoolers know about the First Amendment? Facilitators: Warren Watson (Ball State Univ.); Rob Williams (Action Coalition for Media Education/Champlain College); Julie Dobrow (Tufts University); Steven Wilmarth, Center for 21st Century Skills, Litchfield, Conn.

Watson will preview new research about school principals and First Amendment

11 a.m.-noon -- SESSION THREE -- The New England Common -- Regional issues resource? (Room 204)

Among the regions of America, New England may be better know worldwide than any other. But what are New England businesses doing to take their brands beyond the neighborhood? And how can you become more involved in building civic collaboration and action on New England issues? An update on the New England Futures Project. Conveners: David Soule, UMass-Lowell; William Mass (UMass-Lowell, Center for Industrial Competitiveness); George Hamilton, president, Institute for Sustainable Communities, Montpelier, Vt. Neal Peirce (CitiStates), Jonathan Weber (NewWest.net). Additional resource: Jason Rudokas, Univ. of N.H., Carsey Institute.

noon-12:15 p.m. -- Break -- Consider using this time to check whiteboards in room 202 for information about 3 p.m. "meetups" -- call one, sign up for one!

12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. -- Box lunch and keynote speaker: Vermont Gov. James Douglas
(first floor conference room)

Enjoy a tasty box lunch and listen to the day's keynote speaker: Vermont Gov. James Douglas, who will outline his state's efforts to guarantee broadband Internet to all its citizens as well as his role as current chairman of the New England Governors' Conference. Introduction to Gov. Douglas' remarks by New England News Forum Director Bill Densmore and Richard Anderson, founder, VillageSoup.com, Rockland-Camden, Maine. Come prepared to discuss with the governor, and audience experts, efforts to improve New England's broadband infrastructure.

1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m. -- Panel: Does journalism -- or blogging -- merit a shield? (Room 204)

A blogger is imprisoned in California for refusing to turn over videotape of a demonstration. Is he a journalist? Can reporters be independent of government if prosecutors can subpoena and view their notes? All event participants are encouraged to join in this probing discussion which raises important questions for media professionals and citizens alike.

Facilitators: Jeff Newman, attorney; Bill Ketter, editor-in-chief, Lawrence Eagle Tribune.
Panelists: Jim Taricani, WJAR-TV, Providence; Charlie Kravitz, New England Cable News (invited); Sarah Olson, independent journalist; Updating on filing of shield bill in Mass. Legislature; possible review of issues underlying the Maine blogger case.

2:45 p.m.-3 p.m. Networking break, cookies and juice

A second chance for general mingling and networking and for finding the location of the end-of-day meetups. Check whiteboards in Room 202 for posted meetup locations.

3 p.m.-4 p.m. -- Meetups to exchange ideas/next steps (rooms assigned ad hoc)

Based on ideas proposed during the morning networking break, we post at least four room locations for end-of-day meetups with designated facilitators. The emphasis will be on finding shared projects to pursue and engagement via the New England News Forum website.

MEETUP TOPICS ALREADY SCHEDULED

Click on the topic to go to a detail page and to add your name to those interested in participating in the meetup discussion.

MEETUP: Fifth Congressional District candidates meet bloggers -- 3 p.m. -- First Floor

Citizen Journalists and the Fifth Congressional District Special Election -- Because U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan, D-Lowell, plans to resign his House seat to become UMass Lowell chancellor, a hot race is underway. Bloggers Lynn Lupien and Dick Howe convene a discussion with five of the likely candidates in the first-floor meeting room. CLICK FOR DETAILS.

MEETUP: Building municipal wireless networks and government websites -- 3 p.m. -- Room 203

E-Democracy: How are governments using the web to communicate with citizens? -- Tim Nulty, director, Burlington Telecom; David Crowley, founder, Social Capital Inc. and Pam Wilmot, Common Cause of Massachusetts.

MEETUP: Tools for video newsmaking -- 3 p.m. -- Room 206

"Converting newspapers into video podcasts" -- Brett Rhyne, Salem State College

MEETUP: A conversation with new daily's editor -- 3 p.m. -- Room 205

"Citizen journalists meet professional journalists: Now what?" -- John Wilpers of BostonNow paper discusses blog-to-print and print-push-web strategies of Boston's newest daily set to start publishing April 15.

MEETUP: Media's role in inequality -- options? -- Room 202 southwest corner

Education and Manufactured Hierarchy, Ben Melançon and anyone else interested: Some say U.S. society is growing more unequal and that the education system contributes to this change. Does the media have any role in doing or undoing this? What should it be?

AFTERNOON SUMMATION -- 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Has blogging gone mainstream media? -- Room 204

A federal court in Washington assigns to seats to bloggers covering the Scooter Libby trial. A talk-radio hosts pastes together a citizen cable network in New Hamshire, avoiding broadcast TV. In this session we take an early look at the people and websites watching the New Hampshire presidential sweepstakes. A key ethical and business question looms over the news industry: What is journalism, who owns it and do people who "do journalism" deserve special consideration in law or otherwise? In this end-of-day session -- playing off the "shield law" panel earlier -- network with bloggers and traditional journalists who are already blogging and reporting on one of the most crowded fields of presidential contenders in memory. Help continue New Hampshire's non-partisan tradition as the nation's presidential issues petri dish. And consider this: As bloggers gain status as "journalists" what does this mean for traditional media? AN OPEN DISCUSSION AMONG PARTICIPANTS convened and led by: Robert Cox of the Media Bloggers Association, Arnie Arnesen, blogger/talkmaster, PoliticalChowder.com; Aldon Hynes, former blogger for the Howard Dean and Ned Lamont campaigns and Media Giraffe Project collaborator and Tish Grier, Dep. Director of Participation for Assignment Zeroand former Editor of Corante Media Hub.

5 p.m.-6 p.m. -- SNEAK PREVIEW -- "From Pamphleteers to Bloggers: Citizen Journalists At Work" (First Floor Conference Room)

Preview the first cut of a new one-hour video produced by the Media Giraffe Project at UMass Amherst documenting the motivations and work of citizen journals. Includes excerpts from the June 28-July 1 MGP2006 Summit as well as on-location interviews. You're invited to remain after the video to advise on what to cut, change or add.

DUTCH-TREAT DINNER -- Nearby restaurant

For those participants interested in a "Dutch-treat" dinner, we're considering organizing a pre-reserved, prix-fixe dinner at a nearby restaurant. If you're interested, please add your name to this wiki page, and include your email address. We'll update you a week or so before April 7 on the plan.

HOW TO REGISTER

Go to: https://www.123signup.com/calendar?Org=TMGP

Wannalancit Mills

LOCATION

We'll be meeting in the Wannalancit Mills, a 425,000 square-foot historic textile workplace now home to several UMass Lowell offices as well as commercial and research space. It's at 650 Suffolk Street, across from the Tsongas Arena and a few blocks from the UMass Lowell East Campus. (SATELLITE MAP)

PARKING

Parking is free and available directly across from the entrance to the Mill building.

DIRECTIONS

To get to Wannalancit Mills or Tsongas Arena from I-93 North or South Take Exit 46 (Lawrence/Dracut) and follow Rte. 110 toward Lowell (Dracut). Rte 110 becomes VFW Highway in Lowell. Turn left at Bridge Street and proceed across the Merrimack River. At the next light, turn right onto French Street. Proceed almost one mile, past Lowell High School, to the intersection with Arcand Drive. The Tsongas Arena will be on the right. If traveling to Wannalancit Mills, continue straight. French Street becomes Fr. Morrissette Blvd. at this point. Turn right onto Suffolk Street, just past the Post Office. Wannalancit will be on the left.

To get to Wannalancit Mills or Tsongas Arena from I-495 North or South Take I-495 to the Lowell Connector, Exit 35C. From the Connector, take Exit 5B onto Thorndike St. After four traffic lights, Thorndike St. bears right and becomes Dutton St. Continue on Dutton St. across Merrimack St. onto Arcand Drive. At the end of Arcand Drive, the Tsongas Arena is straight ahead. For the Wannalancit Mills, turn left at the traffic light onto Fr. Morissette Blvd. Turn right onto Suffolk Street after the post office. The Wannalancit Mills are on the left.

To get to Wannalancit Mills or Tsongas Arena from Route 3 North Take Exit 30B onto the Lowell Connector. From the Connector, take Exit 5B onto Thorndike St. After four traffic lights, Thorndike St. bears right and becomes Dutton St. Continue on Dutton St. across Merrimack St. onto Arcand Drive. At the end of Arcand Drive, the Tsongas Arena is straight ahead. For the Wannalancit Mills, turn left at the traffic light onto Morissette Blvd. Turn right onto Suffolk Street after the post office. The Wannalancit Mills are on the left.

To get to Wannalancit Mills or Tsongas Arena from Route 3 South Take Exit 30A toward I-495N. Before entering 495, take Exit 35C to the Lowell Connector. From the Connector, take Exit 5B onto Thorndike St. After four traffic lights, Thorndike St. bears right and becomes Dutton St. Continue on Dutton St. across Merrimack St. onto Arcand Drive. At the end of Arcand Drive, the Tsongas Arena is straight ahead. For the Wannalancit Mills, turn left at the traffic light onto Morissette Blvd. Turn right onto Suffolk Street after the post office. The Wannalancit Mills are (L).

Doubletree Riverfront Lowell

PREFERRED LODGING

We have arranged for a block of rooms at the Doubletree Hotel Lowell, at 50 Warren St., on the riverfront in downtown Lowell (1.6 miles from the conference venue), at the rate of $74/night plus 9.7% occupancy tax. To reserve your room, telephone the hotel directly at (978) 452-1200 and mention you are with the New England News Forum, or make your reservation ONLINE using the Group Code of NEN. This room block is reserved until mid-March. IMPORTANT: At this special NENF rate, reservations must be canceled at least seven days before arrival to be assured that your credit-card will not be charged for one night.

Other options

GOOGLE MAP SHOWING NEARBY HOTELS

Lowell Courtyard by Marriott, 30 Industrial Drive, (renovated 2001) 2.6 miles from the conference venue.
Best Western Chelmsford, (typical: $67/night) 187 Chelmsford St., Chelmsford, Mass.
Raddison Hotel Chelmsford (typical: $74/night), 10 Independence Drive, Chelmsford, Mass.

THINGS TO DO

The Lowell National Historic Park explores the early history of the American industrial revolution.
The American Textile History Museum tells the history of America through the art, science and history of textiles.
Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

ALSO NOTED:

The Western Avenue Studios artists lofts open house, Saturday, April 7, noon to 5 p.m.
New England Quilt Museum
Patrick J. Morgan Cultural Center
Second World
Whistler House Museum of Art