Opinion Pool project going
swimmingly.
by Roth, Eddie
I always felt sympathy for television reporters forced to give live
updates while waiting outside a courthouse for news of a verdict as the
jury continues to deliberate.
The Masthead goes to press with much impending news about The
Opinion Pool--the NCEW project in which editorial page staffs from eight
pilot properties are collaborating to build model online templates for
opinion journalism, with a goal of going live by fall 2008:
* We await word from the Knight Foundation on NCEW'S
application for a News Challenge Grant. The project is designed to go
forward even with no outside funding--but all or part of the grant sure
would supercharge the process.
* Focus groups are now scheduled for late February and early March
for Seattle, Des Moines, and Vero Beach, Florida. Gannett
Corporation's top-gun focus group facilitator will lead them.
We will be talking to younger men and women in these markets
(21-39) in hopes of getting a better understanding of what they think of
us, of where online they turn to inform their opinions about local
public affairs, what they like and don't like, and what motivates
them to participate in the conversation. Be on the lookout for the
chance to watch streaming video of the Seattle session, and for written
reports about all three.
* Twenty-five "fellows"--including representatives from
the pilot sites and members of the NCEW Executive Board--will be
convening (thanks to Pete Kohler) in Los Angeles March 2-5 at a program
focused on "best practices" for online opinion and commentary.
The conference is jointly organized by NCEW and the Knight Digital Media
Center at University of Southern California Annenberg School for
Communication. It will include the first substantive meeting of the
pilot sites as they discuss advice and solicit advice from other
participants.
We are closely following these stories. As the news warrants, we
will interrupt regularly scheduled programming with breaking updates.
Full reports to follow.
Eddie Roth is an editorial writer at the Dayton Daffy News in Ohio,
and coordinator of the NCEW Opinion Pool Project. Email:
eroth@coxohio.com
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