mls preso march 1 2010
DESCRIPTION
How can community foundations and other local organizations think about creating hyperlocal sites that truly engage the community, both as participants and as creators and partners? This preso offers some ideas for discussion.TRANSCRIPT
New Models for community media Susan Mernit Founder, Oaklandlocal.com, Web Strategist, Center for Investigative Reporting, Circuit Rider, Knight Community Information Challenge
New Models for community media This session is about How non-traditional & grassroots organizations & individuals Are filling the information gap for local news & discussion
How these sites are different that what came before
Things to think about as you work to support and create community Information sites that support informed, engaged communities.
Twitter: World’s breaking news source Twitter is our back fence & our tribal drumbeat
Local video reaches across the world We don’t need foreign correspondents anymore
News happens—and is shared– in REAL time Flickr: February 27, Saturday am: Chilean earthquake 8.8, 4:34 am
Via search & reputation, news is both grass-roots & filtered—almost instantaneously
Implications to think about for community media, grassroots Old media is DYING Local is now global Eyewitnesses tell their stories The foreign correspondent is obsolete Mobile phones =Information workhorses
But how about the truly local level?
There are some problems: Local news as we know it is NOT being delivered by most newspapers Citizens often do NOT get the information they need to make informed decisions on issues and decide if they want to take action Many of the issues that local people care about are not being adequately discussed—online—and off
And some solutions— New hybrids are emerging that offer models for community engagement, storytelling, social change
These new sites are often Very grassroots Blend volunteers & professionals Are web and mobile-based Non-profit or mission-driven Born & bred in their communities Potentially transformative
Do you think media is a social change/capacity-building tool in an informed democracy? I do.
Examples Oakland Local: New news non-profit with 35 non-profit community partners West Seattle Blog: Definitive local media for West Seattle, WA Baristanet: Montclair, NJ community news & advertising CityLimits.org “progressive civic lifestyle in New York City” The loop: Westchester’s town square Chicago Current: Local politics and news Deerfield Forum: volunteer news
Oakland Local: Case study in community engagement, partners, volunteering
Oaklandlocal.com: Collaborate & Translate
Oakland Local Today 5 months old 25,000 unique visitors month 35+ non-profit partners Staffed by editor/publisher, senior producer, senior editor 15 freelancers 25 volunteers
Funded by J-Lab New Voices Grant, $17,000 Project of 501c3, Center for Media Change Supported by Harnisch Foundation, GW Williams Institute
Mission: Build capacity so diverse voices will be heard
A core staff works with volunteer writers, editors & partners
Revenue & Entrepreneurship Paid staff works part/time Volunteers are trained & supported Partnerships with local non-profits produce blogs, articles, videos, photos Emphasis on user guidelines, quality, diversity
Partners include Ella Baker Center, Bay Localize, Urban Habitat, EBASE New America Media, Center for Investigative Reporting, KALW, Spot.usraffic, uniques
Cost to date: under $20,000
How it is working? Metrics: Past 30 days Unique visitors: 26,000 Page views: 77,000 Time on site: 1.47 min average Bounce: 48% Geographic locations: Oakland, San Francisco
Social media data: Twitter: 1,000 + followers Facebook: 2,350 fans Use flickr, vimeo, Youtube, etc.
Funders: J-Lab, Harnisch Foundation, Renaissance Institute, G.W. Williams Institute
Most trafficked independent news destination in East Bay Live meet-ups average 25-40 attendees Will sell sponsorships & advertising in Q 2
Oakland Local Approach Focus on community relationships & partners Blend of grassroots & quality reporting Collaboration-focused Teach skills to partners Allow wide range of views Issue, not place-driven Integral roles for local orgs & volunteers Updates daily, translates
What have we learned about community & volunteers?
Doing with, not for Everyone is a partner We aim to serve Face to face relationships Wide range of views Volunteers have different motives Maintain being inclusive Respectful
A trend toward community media As news sites falter, a new model emerges Community foundations are NATURAL partners Advocacy groups can use your platform, but you are NOT an advocacy group Focus on issues not neighborhoods Be lean Be wary of third party vendors—and consultants Engage and empower community Plan, plan, plan—but execute as well
Build a platform for independent voices to be heard, issues examined
Issues & Challenges Do you need a separate organization? How do you staff this? Who enforces standards? What is a community manager and where do I get one? What is open source & why do I have to care? How do I measure impact? How do I set goals? How do I focus the effort? What does starting small look like? How do we get training & support? What does being a translator & connector mean?
You CAN do this—and it will make a big difference when you do
Putting new models to work Work with Knight Circuit Riders: Resources dedicated to your projects
Attend Knight Boot Camp. USC, March 2010: Working sessions to build skills, planning
Create cohort groups & working teams across grantee pool to address problems, questions via private groups, monthly or quarterly calls and webinars
Connect with local hyperlocal information community: Build a “media map” or audit of news & information players in your area—where can your project facilitate discussion, taking action?
Build something for everyone: Engage people of color and low-income communities in the conversation at the start
Set goals and measure—but plan for success—small, incremental steps are better than one big bang
Oakland Local loves to share community strategies
Keep in touch
Twitter: Susanmernit Email: [email protected]
Site: oaklandlocal.com