When you think about your responsibility as a small town media producer do you have more pressure because you are the only provider?

Mr. Duke- Yes, but I am also much more accountable for what I produce. Every single day, I get e-mails from readers who challenge what he publishes and attach links. I hear from readers as soon as I print anything. Theres not a lot of media like that anymore. I think we have a higher responsibility but we are more accountable so it makes my job easier. Greater media publishes much more different views so we are able to get more voices even though bigger media is less accountable for what it produces.

In Health care debate people said that Obama's healthcare was called a National Healthcare plan even though its not. People thought that Internet should be fact checking and challenging bigger media though it did not because it is not as reliable.

audience question: Mr. Greenberg-How do you choose which stories to publish?

Mr. Greenberg- "I'm not interested in people's opinions." All the strictly observational pieces are shared. People can search the database and learn about the stories for themselves. People want to hear hear real, human, honest stories.
-the Producers have a responsibility to filter through information to show what is actually going on. However, the "truth is our story plus X"

Dr. Rich - "the vast majority of people only read the first and sometimes the second Google page"
- Good journalists go to perspectives that they don't agree with.
- "it comes down the consumer to become the critical thinker." Unfortunately the consumers are moving the oppostit direction.

Audience Questions

Asks Dr. Rich convincing presentations that violent video games make children more violent also heard that they are good to deal with issues in media medium as opposed to real world

Dr. Rich- Find out real evidence. Violence is best researched area in term of how it affects

1000 rigorous studies all except 18 (6 showed no affect at all 12 showed minor decrease in aggressive thoughts and behavior increase anxiety ) 960 showed at least one of the following ideas. Firstly, that the world is a mean and dangerous place. This thought that is ingrained in young people today is linked to anxiety and sleep disturbance. Also, that violent media desensitizes and allows consumers to accept it. Dr. Rich explains that in the film industry he watched many very gory films and it never affected him. After working in ER as a doctor, he was "re-sensitized" to the seriousness of injuries. Now he can't watch violent movies because he understands the violence in a realistic sense as opposed to just something on the screen

Worried about shifting of center, about what we accept in this world. 3 components bullying bully, victim, and bystanders Media desensitizing causes more bystanders.

Mr. Greenberg- Standard media distorting effects are very strong. He interviewed author Isabel Allende and asked her about optimism vs. pessimism because her book ended on a positive note. She live through a terrible time in her country where there was a lot of killing and violence. That was all she saw in the news, as it should be. She also felt that in her experience there were more good people than bad people, but one wouldn't know that, looking at the media of that time. We are only showed negative aspects of reality so it distorts our view.

What are some things which you think media consumers can do to ensure that they are consuming media responsibility?

Mr. Rich- There is no such thing as unbiased truth. If we are not constantly trying to eliminate our biases and pretend that they're no there then we are doing ourselves a disservice.

Responsibility of Consumer is to think critically and question everything that they see. New Media has a multiplicity of voices and we can put together our own opinion on reality based on all these different opinions.

Mr. Greenberg- The Consumer needs to remember the role of power. Leading media issued many articles in the wake of the Iraq war that asked "how did we get it so wrong?". They said that they failed to listen to the lonely voices. The case had not been made that Iraq has WMD and yet nobody questioned those in power.

The Media is supposed to be the 4th estate check on the other parties in power. Party in opposition did not have guts or knowledge to present other point of view. In a situation that is being reported where power really matters then you should really question the media. Power affects media presentation and ability to present other view.

Mr. Duke- Agrees with much of what Mr. Greeberg and Dr. Rich said. Reiterates that, every time you read something challenge the writers assumptions and your own assumptions.

do you believe that the responciblity of Media producers have changed because of new meda

Mr. Duke - it has not affected my ethics or stories. An example of the change: if the New York Times had new media, they would have published the Pentagon Papers.
-new media has not affected his readership because he has "tribal publications." His news paper is the only one to produce the information in his community

Mr. Greenberg -Media producers now have an obligation to open up and listen to citizens
-new responsibility for consumers: with self publication people must be honest

Dr. Rich -"truth is illusive and it is not a single thing"
-new media has shifted the way everybody thinks about the news. today people have to question all the information they get whether online or published.
-entertainment media cannot separate learning from different places. brains mature untill middle ages. media producers must take responcibility for a broad range of thier affects like car manufacturers do.

Mr. Duke- media consumers now have a much greater responsibility. The old culture in the media: "anything you know might be wrong." New culture of media: "I'm right. I know."
-there used to be 20 opinionated newspapers in NY so people had to buy 3 or 4 newspapers. Today people have to do the same thing

Remarks from Dr. Mike Rich

Media in its broadest sense is a means of transmission. Dr. Rich went from film making to Medical School. Explains that Doctors own medicines, define disease and write prescriptions and run tests. Patients come in only when they are the ones who take or don't take the doctors advice. Rich says we need to bring patient in sooner.

Media affecting kids. In history kids mostly died from infectious diseases and cancer. Medical community didn't have antibiotics and couldn't help.

This Century leading causes of death in youth: unintended injury, homicide and suicide. As well as irresponsible sexual behavior and eating behavior. All these generally stem fromm media info about nutrition and sexual relations.

Those who consume more screen media are more likely to be discontent, obese, and unhappy.

We need to understand that educational media/ TV is redundant because all media is educational. You are always learning. Center on Media and Child Health take media away from right and wrong issues (first amendment vs. censorship). Media is such an important part of life citizens spend an absurd amount of time consuming media. We need to pay more attention to it. Understand how it affects us.

Research Media and get it out in a format that young people and others can understand. Empower young people to understand that the media is changing them.

brief remark from Mr. Duke

Mr. Duke believes one must rephrase the forum question. instead we should ask: "how much responsibility are consumers willing to accept and will it be enough to save democracy?"

The responsibility of producers and consumers is to "challenge your assumptions" because
"truth is a process not a destination"

Mr. Dukes feels that his personal responsibilities as a producer of the media are:
-to report what has happened -to organize the news -to publish all the major events -to make a market place of ideas -to demand access of information -to evaluate how society is doing -to explain how people can get involved -to challenge every assumption -and to make sure that his staff accepts these responsibilities

In conclusion Mr. Duke thanked the class, because the forum question made him "synthesize" his thoughts on what he does every day

Opening Remarks John Greenberg

Mr. Greenburg - Prepared power point presentation

Begins Argus character of Greek mythology. Watched cows, had many eyes, specific job, Greenberg implies that this is how a media producer should be.

NHPR-> goes to public -> asks them to tell NHPR what they see-> read reports -> and have a conversation about them.

This is the model for Media Producers to be Responsible.

People put information in central processing point. Web based. Feeds info out to Schools, Media and Civic organizations. To give it back out the public.

This model has these listed benefits

A new way to see the big picture

A new way to see the local picture

Values and empowers citizens

Empowers civic organizations

Provides new starting points for discussion.

Should not be opinions of the public, should be observations

Central processing point has to be the right technology to help anyone be involved. Organizations job is to define the norms and create meaning, act as a Venn Diagram.

Key Outcomes of this Model

Embed the standard: Description over opinion

More centers that gather quality information

Introduction to The Responsibility of Media Producers and Consumers in the Evolving Media Landscape

At 3:30 the St. Paul's New Media class arrived to the Captains Room in the hockey center to begin preparations for the forum. The video recorder was set up, the refreshments arranged, and the bloggers and moderators took their position.

At 3:40 the first panelist, Mr. Greenberg, arrived. He has volunteered his time for both of our forums. We are very fortunate for this, as he is an executive editor for NHPR

Dr. Rich arrived at 3:45. He is a mediatrician. He works on media's effect on child health in Boston.
you can ask him any question you would like on his website: http://cmch.typepad.com/mediatrician/

At 3:55 Mr. Duke arrived. He is an editor of the Stowe Reporter, which you can look at on the website:
http://www.stowetoday.com/stowe_reporter/front/

Ellie Duke: What do you think the future holds for new media, especially in terms of citizen involvement?

Greenberg- "There's going to be a lot more of it."

Wilson- It is "inherently unpredictable...the social media becomes the glue that helps us understand" the consumer. Media will become a "socially mediated" function.

Michelle Lee: What do you think about the growing popularity of new media generators like Slate and the Huffington Post? Will the media landscape start to rely on those models?

Wilson- They are important and real. "There is still a vanishingly small portion of media generating sources that are out there." They are still very small in the scheme of things.

Greenberg- Huffington Post still takes much of its information from traditional media. Texas Tribune is worth looking at. They use a different business model than traditional media sources are using.

Gearheart- Sites like Propublica are on the non-profit model and won a Pulitzer. If ethical institutions start doing that, this model could work.

Conclusion of media forum and refreshments.

The floor is opened for questions from the audience.

Emily Mester:

In what ways if any are your organizations trying to incorporate new media to disseminate information?

Wilson- Recently rebuilt Concord Monitor using technology fundamentally designed to support social networks and a membership system. That is the easiest part. The hardest part comes in "changing the culture of the newsroom." "Finely honed practices...that has been developed over generations" has to be changed as the media in which it is published evolved. Shift towards "immediate publication." The largest changes are "immediacy" and the connection formed with consumer.

Greenberg- "When we saw the economy tanking, I said the most important thing for us to do--as a news organization--is be as close to possible to the reality people are living in." Created Web site asking consumers (anonymous to the public) how the recession had affected them. These became stories on air and helped develop NHPR's understanding of the economy's effect on New Hampshire residents. The web is essential in accessing the public and understanding the reality of their lives.

Gearheart- TV can be a very one-dimensional experience. Bringing TV online is "a whole new degree of engaging the viewer." It is also "redefining a platform." What was once limited to cable subscribers is now available to anyone who has computer access.

In our age of sensationalism, how has new media increased opinion-based media?

Gearheart- New media has created a higher degree of accessibility

Greenberg- "One can understand the temptation that as the media environment becomes more clutters you have to do more to get more eyeballs on your stuff...the non-profit sector is not exempt from any of this." News organizations that interact with the people they serve should continue to be developed. They should give them the information that matters, not the information that gets the most attention.

Wilson- We have been forced to reevaluate the definition of journalistic merit. The new media landscape is more inclusive, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Censorship. Who should censor? What should be censored? When should we censor?

Wilson- The easiest answer is we should never censor. "There is no doubt that our future is going to include a lot more citizen sources." Approximately 50% of Americans look at between 4-6 media platforms a day. Explosion of opinions on blogs. The kind of censorship I am more concerned about is the constricting of information that happens "when institutions are less able to go out and demand information from government entities."

Gearheart- Institutions do matter. "Joe blogger does not have an institution to back them up when it counts."

Greenberg- "You can help if you insist on disclosure...transparency matters on every level." There are times when not publishing information can be appropriate. We should concentrate on who is censoring. When lives are at stake, news corporation have withheld information. Implications that it is most appropriate for businesses should make their own decisions regarding censorship.

How can journalism ethics be maintained?

Laughs from the speakers...

Greenberg- It helps to have industries. "If you take a look at the intersection of resources and values and institutions in society, what you find is that if an institution operates according to accepted standards, it will attract resources." We have resources because we have operated within a set of values. "The institutions will enforce the proper set of ethics because it allows us to continue to operate." The danger lies in consumers who do not know what sources to trust.

Where's the money going to come from to ensure we get our news?

Wilson- very much TBD. Rocky period ahead. Not just a revenue decline, also the decline of operationally leveraged businesses. It isn't necessarily that we have to replace 100% of the revenues of years past. What they need to do is "fill a wedge," a far more manageable prospect. Variety of ways to fill that gap.

Greenberg- Three business models: 1. Co-op model 2. Philanthropic/non-profit model 3. The way cable TV operates, pay for access.

Gearheart- Television advertisements. Much of their content relies on the fact that they have advertisers and sponsors. The television industry can relate less to co-op or foundation models. A decidedly for profit enterprise.

Moderators begin to ask speakers questions.

The idea of an informed public

Would you agree that Sunstein's assertion that the choice introduced by new media has caused polarization?

Gearheart- Choice exists in political parties, it exists in worlds outside our media. It depends on the consumer. If you are a responsible consumer, there will be less polarization.

Greenberg- New media has expanded the echo chamber. Your own words can come back to you. Move towards placing a value on a useful way to interacting in the public sphere. The web allows it but does not encourage it.

Wilson- Consumer's fault, hardwired into the way our brains work. We accept information that confirms our biases.

MG:

Entertainment vs. journalism

The television/entertainment industry is a hybrid--Her job is to observe and act as both as consumers of media and news and build product that they hope will entertain an audience. Colbert Report depends on an informed public, but at its core, their job is getting people to watch

Jon Greenberg:

There are 3 dynamic areas affected recently by the changing face of the media.

3 dynamic areas affected recently

1. Relationships

Public radio has a transactional element. In economic downturn, we had the cushion of the relationship of our consumers of news. They responded to the needs we had. Relationships is an expanding part of the news ecology as we move forward.

2. Data base

We realize that we cannot think of ourselves as just radio. Human beings and data bases have an uncomfortable relationship. Data bases are inflexible while we are infinitely flexible.

3. Redefining news work

Mediation by databases. Generate meaning that comes to you as value added product. All ties together because trust in news builds relationships

The speakers first address the audience.

Geordie Wilson says that he could approach the changing face of the media as either "an optimist or a curmudgeon." He speaks of the problems facing the media today--the erosion of disinterested journalism and the lack of shared information, among others. "We all seem to inhabit increasingly disparate information silos," he said. He speaks of conflation, citing the statistic that there are 30% fewer reporters today than there were in 2005.

"The good is real but it has come at a great cost," he says.

However, new media has not reached its full potential. New media still depends on traditional media for raw information. "New media for all its promise is an amplifier not a generator of the news."

Setup began at 3 with moderators preparing questions, chairs being set up, refreshments being put out, etc. Guests have begun to arrive. It is a relatively small crowd which should allow for a fairly interactive forum.

Coverage of this forum includes this live blog, as well as a video taping by Christine Ferguson '11.

All three guests--Megan Gearheart, Jon Greenberg, and Geordie Wilson--have all arrived and are sitting down as Mr. Edwards begins to introduce the forum.

Getting Started

What you'll see here represents the work of students interested and engaged in the criticism and creation of media, both in its traditional and "new" forms.

As members of the New Media and Culture class here at SPS, we have dedicated time not only to analyze the various questions and issues affecting today's media through readings, discussions, and other activities and assignments, but also to exercise our own journalistic muscles as a way of translating that analysis into action.

In the near future, we'll post our thoughts on the responsibility of the media and the consumers, along with live updates from the community forums on the media held here at SPS and other related postings.

Bottom line: we hope that this medium will serve as both an outlet for our thoughts and our work and that you'll join us in thinking more about the purpose of the media, what it does, and how it continues to change.