SIGHTING: What's a "media giraffe"? Help us define



SEARCH GIRAFFE PROSPECTS | MISSION | AUDIO/VIDEO RESOURCES | >MGP-FORUM | KEY QUOTES | HOME PAGE | ABOUT US | COLLABORATORS | BLOG RESOURCE SITE | BLOG NEWS SITE | MGP2006 ALUMNI NEWS | SUMMIT WIKI | CONTACT US | SUPPORT US | SPONSORS | REPORT A SIGHTING | Google News Search
Last Updated: Oct 12th, 2007 - 21:58:21 


Newshare.net
NEWS/RESEARCH TOPICS 
 
 A-About MGP
 
 A-CONFERENCE
 
 A-AUDIO/VIDEO resources
 
 A-Blogs
 
 A-Business Models
 
 A-Citizen journalism
 
 A-Democracy Futures
 
 A-Education & Training
 
 A-Ethics and Standards
 
 A-First Amendment / Free Speech / Press
 
 A-Giraffes at Work?
 
 A-Ideas-Trends-Innovation
 
 A-Journalism Futures
 
 A-KEY ESSAYS
 
 A-KEY QUOTATIONS
 
 A-Multimedia & Video Innovation
 
 A-Ownership, governance & management
 
 A-Podcasting & Audio
 
 A-VERBATIM-Interview Q&As
 
 Broadcasting/ Low Power FM
 
 Cable Local Access (PEG)
 
 Community wireless
 
 Conferences / Events
 
 Entertainment Industry
 
 Internet-Advertising
 
 Internet-Privacy-Online
 
 Internet-Technology
 
 Music-Future
 
 Online News Services
 
 Regulation: FCC and the courts
 
 Research / Demographics
 
 Resources
 
 Trackbacks/MGP in the news



Newshare.net
A-About MGP
Newshare.net
SIGHTING: What's a "media giraffe"? Help us define
By MGP Staff
Feb 11, 2006, 16:02

Email this article
 Printer friendly page
A “media giraffe” is a standout performer, a person or institution who sticks his or her neck out in journalism or media, visible above others in service to ideals of participatory democracy.

Media giraffes graze within “mainstream media” (MSM), and at the kitchen table, from urban neighborhoods to rural outback. They graze all over the globe, although the pilot-phase of the Media Giraffe project is focusing on the U.S. media landscape.

Not all giraffes have the same spots. But all media giraffes tower above other species in distinctive insight or service to one or more key attributes. They:

  • Show passion and idealism about truth-telling and fostering democracy.

  • Take financial, professional, or personal risk in a media role to advance participatory democracy and community.

  • Commit to the ideals of inclusive and accountable government.

  • Pioneer in thought and action in new media, technology, or system-changing approaches to journalism and media that enable new or broader forms of citizen participation.

  • Project a method for sustaining their innovation, financially or otherwise, in profit or non-profit settings.

  • Contribute to significant, democratic change in the form or substance of public discourse.


    Among places media giraffes graze are
    among larger and smaller local news and local blog websites,  Internet infrastructure,  archiving  or collaboration and new technology, in the daily newspaper world, in broadcast and multimedia, academia, and among e-democracy, political blogging and policy-advocacy groups.

  • Have you observed a giraffe lately?

    Let us know! You can report your sighting, by email or by phone. Include some details and conact information or URL for you or the "giraffe."  Email your "sighting" information to: mediagiraffe (at) journ.umass.edu. Or phone 413-577-4370.
  • Newshare.net


    © Copyright 2006/2007. All rights reserved by original source.

    This page may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The material is made available in the The Media Giraffe Project's efforts to advance understanding of political, economic, democracy, First Amendment, technology, journalism, community and justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' as provided by Section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Chapter 1, Section 107, the material above is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. The Media Giraffe Project has no affiliation with the originator of this article, nor is the project endorsed or sponsored by the article's originator. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

    "The Media Giraffe Project was launched with the collaboration of The Giraffe Heroes Project, a separate organization that since 1982 has been moving people to stick their necks out for the common good." Top of Page


    A-About MGP
    Latest Postings
    TEAM: Who is the Media Giraffe Project?
    ABOUT US: Website, book, film spotlight "above the crowd" individuals fostering democracy, community in media
    How to contact the Media Giraffe Project
    LINKS: Useful links on the Media Giraffe Project website
    ADVISORS: Taking a lead in the giraffe search
    How to support the Media Giraffe Project
    Media Giraffe Project key points
    MISSION/GOALS: What is the Media Giraffe Project accomplishing?
    PROBLEM / SOLUTION: Stories about people unite media, reformers, citizens around common purpose
    RESULTS: What is The Media Giraffe Project achieving?
    Newshare.net