Assembling in January in Memphis a group of “journalists, educators, and media reformers from print, broadcast and new media, both mainstream and independent,” came together to look at the critical “intersection of journalism and media reform.” Neal Peirce and Farley Peters were there with them — they had a mission.
We firmly believe that a critical chunk of decisions in today’s world will be made at the metropolitan (we say “citistate”) level. Regions are the critical action arenas of the 21st century — the organic economies, natural watersheds, media catch basins, commute-sheds, workforce and education networks of our time. Regions are the platform that empower communities to achieve sustainability.
Now we’re seeing the emergence of the “new media” which seems to focus heavily on individuals, their opinions, and a brand of neighborhood-oriented, often hyper-local journalism. Which raises the problem — reporting on developments of regionwide issues doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s radar screen! How can quality, informed journalism about metro-region wide trends, developments, perils, opportunities, gain significant audiences in this new media era? How can we go beyond legacy media to use of new media, more citizen voice and participation in regional debates?
One idea: we call it the “Regional Jolt.”
This would be an electronic broadside, on a fresh topic, sent periodically to an expansive list of players in selected metro regions — newspapers (metro and local), broadcasters, Internet news sources, civic groups, chambers of commerce, CDCs, academics, bloggers. There could be accompanying podcasts, fresh news bulletins, a response/debate Internet site with wikis and RSS feeds. The “jolt” would be designed for maximum impact.
At least one major media outlet and at least one major regional civic organization in a region would have to agree to watch for and give serious consideration to the regional broadsides. That’s key, notes Hodding Carter, to get truly active buy-in from the selected partners.
The broad range of recipients — from mainstream to alternative media, chambers of commerce to reform civic action groups — would deter “bottling up” of any truly relevant issue. The release would empower any recipient to identify steps their region could take to match the leaders’ performance. Our Associate and San Diego-based columnist Rich Louv, who inspired this project, was intrigued how this would mean that the legacy news, alone, couldn’t set the agenda.
What’s the goal here? To “raise the bar” of expectations, then action, on challenges facing the citistates. Regions would be “jolted” by concrete examples of their competitors’ superior achievements. It’s an ever-expanding list — Energy (bringing renewables to scale), Economic Strategies (for expanded job opportunities), Green Systems (for health and solutions to global warming), Transit (for increased mobility), Assured Food Supply (developed regional food sources), Health (regional systems of “wellness zones”), Schools (regional compacts on breakthrough strategies), Workforce Quality (training pathways, community/technical college excellence), Water Management (environmentally-conscious fresh water/stormwater systems), and Security (regional preparedness for terrorism, natural disasters). Our friend Chris Peck editor of the Memphis Commercial Appeal , suggested we float ideas among regions to see which issues they’d consider important or interesting. He,for example, would add how to deal with very high poverty levels, along with regional angles on drug and prison issues.
The broadsides would include a short introductory article highlighting the issue at hand and lead regions in attacking it; the most relevant regional performance indicator charts (a suggestion made by Citistates Associate Bill Stafford and friends at the Puget Sound Regional Council); a list of chief sources for interview in the lead regions; ranges of backup articles and resources. The broadside elements would be recrafted regularly, perhaps through a wiki, based on experience and response from the target regions.
Keith Schneider of the Michigan Land Use Institute says: “Metro regions are big enough for civic leaders to see how swift changes in energy and land prices, population growth, technology, and globalization are changing Americas 21st-century development. But they are small enough for leaders to be inventive, practical, cooperative, responsive, and effective.”
Our concern is — what’s the prospect for important region-wide change if new media directions leaves citistate regions in the dust?
Our regional reports and 1992 book Citistates were trailblazers in today’s fast-expanding American regionalism. We’ve sought to forge a new path of forward-oriented, goal-oriented journalism focused on the regions that are home to 80 percent of Americans. We’re unashamedly serious about illuminating these modern citistates’ needs, dilemmas and breakthroughs, because America’s future in a century of globalization rests largely on them.
We’d like your thoughts and ideas on this topic. Use whatever communication tools you like but do let us know!
PS — We have turned off the weblog posting option as spammers have made the whole process of registration too unworkable right now. You can send your comments to fpeters at this website. We hope to do a follow-up weblog on the responses we receive. Many thanks.