MEDIA GIRAFFE PROJECT

KEY POINTS

         PROBLEM: Democracy can't thrive without an informed and engaged public. Technological change is disrupting business model(s) of mainstream, "watchdog"  journalism.

         OPPORTUNITY: Change is empowering citizens to be journalists (via the Internet). What does this mean for democracy -- and journalism?

         MISSION:  Foster participatory democracy and community by celebrating individuals making innovative,  sustainable, use of media with fresh, effective tools and approaches which empower and informing citizens. 

         STRUCTURE: Non-partisan, non-profit, affiliated with journalism program at University of Massachusetts Amherst as fiscal sponsor and source of interdisciplinary academic help and interest.  Eighteen-person advisory board

         OUTPUTS: Major conference announced for June 29-July 1, 2006 at the UMass Amherst campus.
 "Democracy and Independence: Sharing of News and Politics in a Connected World"

http://www.mediagiraffe.org/conference.html

Three-year project timeline involving:

o        Research . building a database of over 300 potential giraffes

o        Communicate . Telling their stories with website, book, documentary film

o        Educate . With film, workshops, curriculum, reach high school- and college-age youth with message that one person can affect public policy; teach smart media consumption and creation.

         RESOURCES:  Begun April, 2005; first-year budget about $65,000 raised from private donors and combined cash and in-kind match from UMass.  Journalism Prof. Norm Sims is principal investigator; journalist/entrepreneur/lecturer Bill Densmore is director/editor. Fund-raising underway on three-year budget.