Thinking About Next Monday's Class

January 27, 2006

I enjoyed class on Wednesday a lot, especially watching our two groups getting organized. It’s cool how much students can get done if faculty members (or bosses) get out of the way.

Here are some things to think about and/or do over before class on Monday.

Name

We need to come up with a name for the online product, even if we don’t keep it. Let’s get that done Monday. I’m thinking we can pick one and two runners-up and ask Suella (I hope you didn’t get sick) to do some survey work to see if any of them click.


Legal

Professor Kemper told me about the Student Press Law Center. You might check that out at http://splc.org/.

Professor Kemper has a (soft) commitment from a friend of his who is a media law attorney to be available to us and perhaps to come down for a visit with his law class, our class, and the faculty. My feeling is that is good, but we can’t wait and see.

I mentioned to Prof. Sharkey about our looking into current policies and coming up with some if they don’t exist in writing. I also told her that Aaron and Chris were going to explore the whole question of intellectual/creative property rights and copywrite as they apply to students in the department. She said that was great, but asked that you try not to talk to her until after Feb. 15 because she is up to her ears in getting ready for the accreditation visit. Again, that’s good, but don’t wait to get a good start.


Content

I was speaking with Doug Biggers. He is the founder and publisher of the Tucson Weekly. We had a good talk about the alternative press and some recent thoughts he’s had about online journalism generally.

He got me thinking about we should be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking only in “good established newspaper” terms. The internet is different. Try not to let us “pre-internet” types like me and most of the faculty, intimidate you into thinking that what we are after is simply getting what would be a good print publication on line. A lot of things are the same (perhaps) – accuracy, ethics, good writing/photos/audio/video – but a lot is different, way different.

One site that Doug was thinking about as we were talking is http://dukecityfix.com/. It’s fun, basic, and involving. and looks relatively easy to get done. I bet that you all could put up something even better over a long weekend.

Also, at dukecityfix.com, check out their mission statement. It’s short, to the point, and tells just what they’re up to. We’re all wordsmiths. Let’s try to get that done on Monday or Wednesday at the latest. Please try to come up with proposed language for a mission statement to share – Try to keep it under 75 words. Under 50 would be better. You all type at least 40 wpm. Shouldn’t take too much time.

Technical

Doug was also one of the people that founded Desert.net as part of the Weekly. Desert.net is the host/software provider for basically all of the alternative weeklies in the country – and it’s right here in Tucson. The person who runs it is Will. The primary stockholder is also in Tucson. They are both good folks and I imagine would at least be willing to talk to one or more of you working on this. I think it would be better for one of you to approach either of them rather than me doing it.

Email or call me and I’ll get you at least Will’s number and email address and get you started on tracking down the main stockholder. It would also make sense to find out who does the actual uploading and stuff at the Weekly or New Times in Phoenix, and interview them about how they like it.

In the meantime, check out http://desert.net/ and report back to your own group (Fundamental Issues) about what you found and think.

Monday’s Class

On Monday, each group will gather for 10 minutes before class starts.

After that the tentative agenda will be:

1. Fundamental Issues group
a. Update
b. Discussion

2. Content Group
a. Update
b. Discussion

3. Mission Statement

4. Name

5. Break in to groups

6. Groups report back briefly
a. Fundamental Issues
b. Content
c. Commitment to what to deliver Wednesday by each group

7. Additional tasks/agenda for Wednesday’s class

8. Any more general discussion if necessary