Fwd: Supporting Independent Journalism to Thrive -- Report from Pocantico

[Linda Jue]

FYI

Begin forwarded message:

Dear Colleagues,

In early May of this year, a small group of journalists, editors, publishers, funders and other stakeholders met to tackle the perennial conundrum for independent media and journalists: 

How can we broaden financial and other types of support so that more fact-based, independent media organizations and journalists can not only survive but collectively grow into a vibrant, powerful and resilient media sector? 

Organized by the journalism conference facilitation group Journalism That Matters, the group convened at the Pocantico Conference Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund for two-and-a-half days of brainstorming and deep, provocative conversations among folks representing varied interests within the independent journalism field. 

The conversations were wide-ranging, challenging, at times even uncomfortable. Ultimately, the conversations succeeded in eliciting a trove of shared wisdom and experiences as well as new ideas about sustaining this particular journalism sector. They also provided a safe environment to deep dive into unpacking some accepted but troubling orthodoxies.

The attached report summarizes those conversations, who the participants were, and the outcomes of those discussions - some of which entail concrete action while others mark preludes to future conversations. 

The report is not a definitive assessment of the problems of sustainability within the independent journalism sector, nor of the potential solutions. While the group covered a surprising amount of ground in such a short time, the convening was still only two-and-a-half days. Instead, the report is meant to be used as a tool to invite others into ongoing conversations about the themes covered at Pocantico, to promote possible collaborations on a number of fronts, and to catalyze other convenings in the future.

We think you will find many of the discussions quite stimulating. Please let us know your thoughts. Please be sure to look at Linda Jue's separate message to you regarding the report, sent earlier today.

We also wish to express our gratitude to the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for trusting in what was an evolving vision of this gathering to support it from the start.

With warmest regards,

The Pocantico Meeting Organizers

• Peggy Holman, Executive Director, Journalism That Matters 

• Linda Jue, Executive Director/Editor, G.W. Williams Center for Independent Journalism 

• Jo Ellen Green Kaiser, Executive Director, The Media Consortium 

• Sally Lehrman (advisor), Professor of Science and Justice, University of California, Santa Cruz; Senior Fellow on Journalism Ethics, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics 

• Iván Román, Communications Consultant; formerly Executive Director, National Association of Hispanic Journalists 

• Ricardo Sandoval-Palos, Supervising Editor, Morning Edition, National Public Radio; President, Board of Directors, Fund for Investigative Journalism 

• Stephen Silha, CEO, Frisky Divinity Productions; Board Member, Journalism That Matters