Today, I am attending the TEDxPerth – the first TED talk of its type in Perth, a series of thought provoking talks under the banner “ideas worth spreading”.
Here are my notes of Andrew Jaspan’s talk – and an innovative idea to preserve journalism.
Hello, I am a recovering journalist. Journalism is dying, and we are worse for it. Monopoly papers are very powerful in their local markets for distributing news and information. Over 3000 people in the media have lost their jobs this year. Specialists lose jobs first, replaced by general reporters. These generalists have no specialist knowledge, are chasing stories.
What’s the solution? An alternative quality journalism model.
Universities have real experts, with decades of experience on particular topics. They can also tap into a global knowledge network. Unis also create knowledge, whereas papers are knowledge disseminators. Get journos and academics working together is the key to the idea.
We need a new way of engaging – using journalistic skills to get the new knowledge from academics out. Working together. Journos concentrate on bad news (hurricane) while academics concentrate on the why and offer solutions. Better conversations are key. If we get this right, then we offer a great service to democratic society. This serves a functioning of a better informed society.
“The Conversation” is a not for profit that aims to do this.
1. Only experts can offer information, and this has to be demonstrated.
2. Full disclosure is required (who funds the research).
3. Codes of conduct are enshrined – against plagiarism, while giving everyone freedom of expression. Editorial independence is assured.
Unis are paid $12bn by tax payers for research. You have a duty to demand access to this research.
We are Australia’s biggest independent web site, the largest virtual newsroom. Media have welcomed it, and they have access to it. Free for others to use (creative commons license). Trusted high grade information, a democratization of knowledge project.
Free to read, free to share, free to republish.
For more: http://theconversation.edu.au/
