From Senza Megafona by Lelio Simi, journalist and media consultant: *translated using Google’s free translator (May 21, 2010)
Participatory journalism is much debated. Often (too well …) only in theoretical terms, as an idea, attitude and potential to consider the future of journalism. John Paton, CEO of Journal Register Company (JRC, with popular local publications in 10 different states in the U.S.), with its Ben Franklin Project, has done something more.
From The Earl Blog by Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA, the world’s leading provider of global best practices and marketing ideas for newsmedia companies looking to grow amid profound market change: (May 19, 2010)
The Journal Register Company has, unwittingly, become Ground Zero for our industry’s cultural transformation. Let’s keep an eye on this one.
From Fritz and Jen Blog by E&P’s Editor-at-Large Mark Fitzgerald and Associated Editor Jennifer Saba: (May 14, 2010)
From Citoyen Michel by Michael Monette: *translated using Google’s free translator (May 1, 2010)
The central idea of this project is to reverse the paradigm that characterizes the print media so far.
From Simsblog by Judy Sims: (April 29, 2010)
It means newspapers have to work harder, change age-old habits and attitudes and take the risk that some experiments will fail.
John Paton and editors at the Journal-Register Company are willing to give it a try. They recently launched the Benjamin Franklin Project. As described on MontgomeryNews.com:
The Ben Franklin Project challenges the community to come together to decide what information it would like to see covered and further encourages readers to become active members of the news gathering process by submitting tips, personal stories, photos, videos and more using tools found for free on the Internet. Part of the project’s mission is to create a web and print publication for one week that uses only free tools widely available on the Internet to show residents just how easy it is to become part of the process and help participate in the creation of their local news coverage.
Which plan of action will be a bigger hit with readers and advertisers? My money’s on Paton.
Joe Norley, community blogger in West Chester, PA: (April 27, 2010)
What people have yet to realize is the extent of change and the fascinating dynamics many newspapers are going through. The really good news for Daily Local News readers is that the Journal Register Company papers are now on the cutting edge of exciting new technologies and commitment to serving their communities.
From Fred van der Ende’s Blog — *translated using Google’s free translator (April 25, 2010)
The Journal Register Company has, unwittingly, become Ground Zero for our industry’s cultural transformation. Let’s keep an eye on this one.
From Editor & Publisher: (April 23, 2010)
Within 30 days, the newsrooms at the News-Herald, a daily in Willoughby, Ohio, and the weekly group Montgomery Media, will produce editions using only free digital tools from the Internet.
From TV Volume by Todd Vogts, journalist and educator: (April 12, 2010)
The Ben Franklin Project could develop one more piece to the puzzle that is the journalism business model’s savior.
From Crain’s Cleveland Business: (April 22, 2010)
The News-Herald in Lake County is about to take part in a digital experiment
John Paton, the new CEO of News-Herald parent Journal Register Co., announced on his blog that the paper in Willoughby is one of two in the company that will take part in what he calls The Ben Franklin Project.
In the next 30 days, Mr. Paton writes, The News-Herald will publish a single edition of news content, on the web and print, using only free tools available on the Internet. Using social media and other digital tools, the paper will crowd source the news assignments, creation, editing and publishing of content …
From Journalism and Other Noble Endeavors by Eric Thomasson (April 21, 2010)
Publishing The Ben Franklin Project for all the world to see may not seem like a big deal, but it is. It’s gutsy because it ultimately allows for the community and all associates to hold the company accountable for execution of the project.
Nieman Journalism Lab (April 16, 2010)
Journal Register Co. head John Paton details his company’s plan to have one newspaper produce one day’s paper with only free web tools. (Jeff Jarvis, an adviser, shows how it might work and why he’s excited.)
Buzzmachine by Jeff Jarvis (JRC adviser): (April , 12, 2010)
I think it’s possible today to run a news organization — up to the point of publishing — from the cloud, changing not only the production process of news but also its culture. John Paton, CEO of Journal Register, is about to prove it with his Ben Franklin Project.
