Levelling the Playing Field: Journalism Online at Webzine 2005

Today I moderated a panel I put together on journalism in our crazy, fast-paced, ultra-modern online world (or something like that) for Webzine. Nicole Lee, Daniel Terdiman, Adriel Hampton, Glenda Bautista and George Kelly answered my questions and edified the audience on issues ranging from the job market for reporters to advertising ethics and credibility. No “Bloggers Versus Journalists” or “Print Is Dead” here — just professional writers speaking the truth. George was nice enough to record the discussion as a QuickTime file. Thanks, George!

Of course the party last night was awesome, too, thanks to the efforts of Eve and Krissy, fun stuff from Ted (a lightboard wiki) and Sarah (an SFist photo backdrop) and all the staff at the Cafe Du Nord — Guy, Rob, Carrie, Robert and all. Big ups to Ryan at Manganaro Distributors for hooking us up with the Red Stripe discount.

Commentary from the blogosphere:

• Horse Pig Cow likes the idea of creating networks of journalists online.
• The Bay Area is Talking does a great wrap-up. At the panel, Brian pointed out that KRON 4’s model is to amplify the voices in the blogosphere.
• Adventures in Troubleshooting calls the panel a ‘bust,’ but I respectfully disagree in the comments that Daniel was the only ‘journalist’ on the panel.
• Sean Bonner does a spit-take when George mentions his new project, Blackosphere. Personally, I love the name.
• justinsomnia feels that the panel needed “more controversy.” I’ll see what I can do about that next time.

Update: Thanks to FutureMedia we now have video [QuickTime]. I just watched the video again, and I’d like to lavish some more praise upon the panelists for being awesome.  If you didn’t get a single thing out of this discussion, then I’m sorry.

Photo of Annalee Newitz in an aweome three-piece suit introducing the panel by Niall Kennedy. More photos by Scott Beale, Kevin Bjorke, Courtney Patubo and Steve Rhodes.