http://pjnet.org/post/1675/ Public Journalism Network Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:24:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 http://pjnet.org/post/1675/#comment-3808 Maria Marron Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:08:05 +0000 http://pjnet.org/post/1675/#comment-3808 Eric seems to miss the point: It is impossible for smaller schools to improve news and information via digital innovation if the schools/students do not have the necessary hardware/software with which to innovate. Perhaps Knight could infuse smaller programs, i.e., less wealthy programs, with some capital to purchase the tools essential for innovation. Admittedly, it is laudable for Knight to fund MIT computer science/engineering graduates (offhand, I cannot remember which discipline) to pursue master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern's Medill School, and to fund a program originated at the already well-endowed Roy S. Park School, Ithaca College, among others, but what does that do for the smaller, less well-off programs that produce the graduates who fuel the industry, many or most of them in in diverse geographic communities, not necessarily in major media urban areas? Is this a matter of "have horse, get grass?" Eric seems to miss the point: It is impossible for smaller schools to improve news and information via digital innovation if the schools/students do not have the necessary hardware/software with which to innovate. Perhaps Knight could infuse smaller programs, i.e., less wealthy programs, with some capital to purchase the tools essential for innovation. Admittedly, it is laudable for Knight to fund MIT computer science/engineering graduates (offhand, I cannot remember which discipline) to pursue master’s degrees in journalism at Northwestern’s Medill School, and to fund a program originated at the already well-endowed Roy S. Park School, Ithaca College, among others, but what does that do for the smaller, less well-off programs that produce the graduates who fuel the industry, many or most of them in in diverse geographic communities, not necessarily in major media urban areas?
Is this a matter of “have horse, get grass?”

]]> http://pjnet.org/post/1675/#comment-3747 Eric Newton Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:06:49 +0000 http://pjnet.org/post/1675/#comment-3747 Knight Foundation already provides opportunities Maria seeks. The Knight News Challenge, at newschallenge.org, is open to any university, student, professor, company, journalist or citizen who has a good idea about how digital innovation can improve news and information in specific geographic communities. We are giving out $5 million a year in this contest. To enter, all you need to do is go to the web site and fill out a simple form. Knight Foundation already provides opportunities Maria seeks. The Knight News Challenge, at newschallenge.org, is open to any university, student, professor, company, journalist or citizen who has a good idea about how digital innovation can improve news and information in specific geographic communities. We are giving out $5 million a year in this contest. To enter, all you need to do is go to the web site and fill out a simple form.

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