Over the past few months we’ve been exploring current disruptions and opportunities in American journalism by interviewing great minds about their thoughts on — and efforts in — a remarkably fluid and changing landscape.The video above introduces some of whom we’ve been talking to.

Following the FJP

• The FJP on Twitter
• The FJP on on Tumblr

Project Background

• Introducing the FJP
• Project Overview

Our goal is to launch a Web site in early 2011 that houses these interviews so that those interested in the future of American news media have a deep resource through which they can explore changing newsrooms, business models, education and the stakes all this has on democracy itself.

Interested in Collaborating? We are Too.

We’re looking for Hacks and Hackers of all stripes. See our post at FutureJournalismProject.org for more information.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in being a Future Journalism Project Sponsor? We are too!

Contact us and we’ll let you know how we plan to integrate Sponsors across the Web Site, the Podcast Series and feature length documentary planned for 2011.

You can learn more about the scope of the project here (PDF).

News and Updates

You can follow our progress here or on Twitter (@futureJproject), or send us an email at hello@futurejournalismproject.org.

Video Still: Heading for the Scrap Heap by John O’Connell via Flickr. Used with permission.

Qualified applicants will work with producers, editors and developers across key components of the Future Journalism Project, a documentary focusing on the disruption and opportunity currently existing in American journalism.

Qualified interns will work on the following:

• Film production: Interns will take part in documentary shoots. This ranges from coordinating interviews, researching the subject and interviewees, working with the film’s editors, and learning about the documentary process.
• Podcast production: Interns will work with the documentary’s producers to make all interviews available via podcast, and learn the necessary skills to make it happen such as audio editing, RSS feeds and XML markup.
• Book Publishing: Interns will work with an editorial team to produce the Future Journalism Project book, a collection of essays from leading thinkers and practitioners in American Journalism.
• Website development: The Future Journalism Project launches in January 2011 and Interns on the project will work with Web developers as they design and develop the project Web site using open source tools.
• Social Web Marketing: Interns will work with the marketing team to promote the project via newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogging and other communication channels.

Information about the Future Journalism Project can be found at the project Web site.

Qualified applicants are exceptional writers and reporters, have existing skills in one of the above areas, and are excited to learn new skills and disciplines.

Future Journalism Project internships begin immediately and end September 6, 2010. Interns are asked to work 15 hours per week minimum. Time will be compensated with a monthly stipend.

Applicants should apply by sending a cover letter to hq [at] scribelabs [dot] com with their resume and clips (links preferred but attachments acceptable). If you have an online persona (eg, Twitter, Tumblr, a blog, etc), please forward a link to that as well.

A musing, originally posted a ScribeMedia.org.

I was in San Francisco earlier this month working on the Future Journalism Project. This is a multiplatform documentary we recently announced.

Follow the FJP

For news and updates follow the project on Twitter or on Tumblr.
 

Funny though, as I begin shooting interviews and talking to people, opportunities begin to expand. Or at least ideas of what’s possible do.

Before heading to San Francisco, the idea behind the Future Journalism Project was to create a feature length documentary and a Web site that holds all the source footage so that those interested can watch interviews with those we film in their entirety.

Now that I’m back and have discussed the project with ScribeLabs and producers here at ScribeMedia, we’re beginning to recognize that the opportunities are so much more.

Here’s what we’re now thinking. In addition to producing a traditional documentary, we want to explore the possible. This includes:

• Dedicated Web Site: the Future Journalism Project Web site will hold video of all interviews conducted. Each interview will be edited down to a series of 4-6 minute segments organized by subject matter and presented in an interface similar to video-centric sites such as YouTube, Hulu and TED. The goal is to let site visitors explore the ideas of individuals and also dive deeply into specific topics as discussed from a variety of perspectives.

  The Web site will also enable community submissions so that those interested in contributing to the project can upload interviews that they have independently conducted. For example, ScribeLabs plans to target students at US journalism programs to encourage them to interview their peers about the future of journalism and upload the results to the project Web site.

• Podcast Series: Each Future Journalism Project interview conducted by the producers will be made available and presented in its entirety as an audio podcast. Listeners can subscribe to the entire series or download podcasts with the interviewees they are most interested in hearing from.
• The Book: A book of essays written by leading thinkers is planned to accompany the project. The subjects and themes explored will echo and expand upon the video content, with authors focusing on Journalism Education, Journalism Business Models, Changing Journalism Practices and Journalism and Democracy.

  The book will appear in both print and digital versions.

This may sound obnoxiously aspirational but the truth of the matter is that in this day and age there’s really no reason that the above shouldn’t be seen as starting points with pretty much any enterprise reporting activity, documentaries most definitely included. With the technologies and services available to us it’s really just a matter of opening our minds to the possible and seizing opportunities as they present themselves.

Gear & Gadgets

The FJP is being created with:
• Camera: Sony EX1
• Lights: Lowel Tota-Light
• Editing: Final Cut
• Filters: Red Giant
• Audio: Soundtrack Pro
• Sound Design: Reason
 

What I’m doing may be near and dear to my heart but in the end it’s simply content. Open source platforms such as WordPress and Drupal will let me organize it, video service providers like Vimeo and Blip will let me present it, on demand publishers like Lulu will let me create books about it, iTunes let’s me podcast it, Creative Commons lets me license it. Really, what more could a producer ask for?

These are the conversations we’re having back at the Labs, conversations guided by the opportunity of digital possibility.

That said, I hope you follow this project for two distinct reasons: one, journalism in the United States is at a crossroads and we hope to provide fodder for discussion and, two, our very open business model is something we believe in and think is applicable across most subject matter.

The video above include a fraction of the ideas we captured in San Francisco. Stay tuned as we continue our explorations.

Cover image: San Francisco Spectator by VancityAllie via Creative Commons/Flickr.

We produced a series of short segments for a TV talk show that will be shopped around to networks as well as turned into a recurring WebTV series.

Above is the second episode in the series “That Show with Michael Rakosi.” The show is based on the radical premise that, ‘men talk’. It is a talk show with guys. No Sports, No Politics, just our stories.

Michael Rakosi, the show host, is the type of guy who walks into a deli to order a bagel and starts to chat up the person standing in line behind him. Through his life he’s met an interesting cast of characters, many whom will be featured as guests on the show. Average people from all walks of life tell their story or give their take on topics such as betrayal, forgiveness, love, family and a host of other topics typically not associated with a talk show full of guys.

That’s kind of the point of the show. It’s not the man show, it’s not sports talk radio, it’s not a Sunday political round table ranting.

I believe this is a concept that will find an audience – guys who want to talk about stuff that’s not sports, politics or girls, and women that want to understand men, and the fact that we actually have insightful things to say about topics such as love, forgiveness, abandonment, etc.

I envision a social media community, or simply conversation, around the topics raised in the episodes. So the episodes serve to seed a conversation topic rather than be the end of the discussion. I also think there’s an opportunity to have a monthly event series where the panelists are on a stage, with an audience of 50 – 100 people. Michael leads the discussion, but the in-person audience participates.

The events can, of course, be webcast live online, produced as on-demand video, syndicated through a variety of platforms and players. Revenue would come from sponsorship and event ticket sales.

So even if it’s not picked up by a TV network, we still generate enough revenue through other channels to continue production.

For recent journalism grads looking to work on documentaries and Web-based video projects, take a look at the first listing below.

For business reporters with proven track records covering either online Advertising or Internet / Mobile Technology and Startups, we have freelance opportunities. Both are also listed below.

To apply any of these positions, please email us with links to your work, links to online personas that further tells us about you (eg., a blog, Twitter, Delicious/Digg/etc account) and for business reporters, the type of stories you’d like to pursue.

EDITORIAL AND VIDEO PRODUCTION INTERNS

ScribeLabs has openings for two summer interns to work on documentary projects through its publication ScribeMedia.org.

One such documentary is the Future Journalism Project. Information about it can be found here

The second will be announced shortly, and focuses on technology and culture.

Interns will focus on subject matter research, writing articles, interviewee outreach, and various stages of the film pre-production and production process.

The ideal candidate will have excellent writing and research capabilities, and be tenaciously organized, team oriented, excited to learn new skills and a general joy to work with.

Video shooting and editing abilities are preferred but not required.

To apply, use the email link above with “Interns” written in the subject field.

BUSINESS REPORTER – BRAND & ADVERTISING

ScribeLabs is looking for a few good freelance business reporters to contribute to ScribeMedia.org, a multimedia publication focusing on the business, technology and culture of digital media.

Contributors would write about online advertising in general, and video advertising and online publishing specifically. Weekly articles would be a mix of original reporting and media analysis.

Questions and themes we wish to explore include the business goals, results (brand lift, ROI, awareness), the technology used, the creative process and consumer feedback and response, that advertising and brand campaigns strive for and are — or are not — achieving.

If interested, please write to the email address above with “Business Reporter” in the subject field. Include a brief bio with links to your clips, resume and online persona (eg., blog, Twitter, etc.)

The ideal candidate has written for publications such as Ad Age, MediaPost, AdWeek, Brandweek, etc., or reported on the topic elsewhere, is enthusiastic about using audio and video in their reporting, and won’t shy away from appearing on camera for interviews with key opinion makers.

Openings are available immediately.

BUSINESS REPORTER: TECHNOLOGY & STARTUPS

ScribeLabs is looking for a few good freelance business reporters to contribute to ScribeMedia.org, its multimedia publication focusing on the business,technology and culture of digital media.

Contributors would write about technology startups and the disruptions and opportunities throughout the digital media landscape. Weekly articles would be a mix of original reporting and analysis.

If interested, please write to the email address above with “Business Reporter” in the subject field. Include a brief bio with links to your clips and online persona (eg., blog, Twitter, etc.)

The ideal candidate has a proven track record writing about business, companies and technology, is enthusiastic about using audio and video in their reporting, and won’t shy away from appearing on camera for interviews with key opinion makers.

Openings are available immediately.

Reporters Without Borders released a new campaign earlier this week called “Predators of Press Freedom.” The tag line is “Only a free press can hurt them.”

Conceived by Saatchi & Saatchi, ScribeLabs’ Alexandra Lerman was brought on as the project’s filmmaker. Below are her thoughts about the process as originally published on ScribeMedia.org.

When my friends Veronika Georgieva and Stephen J Shanabrook asked me to participate in creating the ad campaign for Reporters without Borders I was really excited because of the noble mission of the organization to advocate freedom of press, something we take for granted in the US. I was also interested how art and advertising can exist side by side.

The idea was to film the process of distorting the photographs of the Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The concept is based on an earlier work by Veronika and Stephen for which they crumbled magazine pages with photos of models.

Suddenly having world dictators as the subject charged the images with new meaning. In the video the sound of Ahmadinejad is distorted as his photograph gets less and less recognizable. A very simple gesture of folding paper becomes an act of violence.

For the rest of the campaign, the images of Kim Jong Il, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Mouammar Kadhafi are crumbled with tags “Only a free press can hurt them. Support our fight” used.

This Web-based video series will explore the present state, current disruption and future possibilities of American journalism from a variety of perspectives.

These include four major investigatory themes described below.

Journalism Education

Traditional Journalism schools teach broadcast, print and radio. Over the last decade they’ve included concentrations around the lines of “New” or “Digital” Media. Continued segmentation appears inadequate when compared to the cross platform demands of practicing journalists. So how should current and future journalists be educated? Apart from traditional study (ie, reporting, ethics, etc.), what skills should they acquire, and how are — or can — other disciplines, such as computer science, augment their education.

Journalism Practice

It’s no longer enough to be a print, TV, radio or Internet reporter. Instead, these disciplines are merging and practitioners must be skilled in each. Newsrooms themselves are evolving in both the technologies they employ and the speed with which they need to produce new content. If cable brought in the 24-hour news cycle, the Internet brought about the minute-to-minute cycle.

Markets are changing as well. While major news organizations attempt to cover local, national and international news, a number of new initiatives are focusing on the hyper-local.

How are these changes, and the fact that journalists and newsrooms are being asked to do more with less, affecting journalism? How many news organizations are prepared?

Journalism Business Models

If our current digital age can be seen as one of immense disruption and opportunity, journalism — and especially print journalism — has taken a major hit. Countless newspapers have closed in the past few years and those that remain struggle to stay afloat.

Many attempts to come up with new business models have been discussed. Some hope updated subscription models or charged delivery through new platforms can pull the industry out of its doldrums. Others believe that traditional revenue models must be revisited in their entirety. Still others think there is no way out except to flip to non-profit models endowed by foundations and grants.

The questions are many, but what are the answers? And is there light at the end of this very dark tunnel?

Journalism and Democracy

It’s long been a cornerstone belief that a strong democracy needs a strong, independent and free press, but where did this idea come from and how was it formed?

Will American democracy and politics change in the face of weakened journalism institutions? And with an already low public opinion about its nation’s media, does the American public really care? Should they? If so, how are the stakes made known to them?

The Documentary

ScribeMedia.org plans to explore these topics through interviews with journalists, educators, publishers, advertisers and civic leaders in order to outline the stakes and provide a wide perspective on the current and future state of journalism in the Unites States.

Filming for the Future Journalism Project begins during Summer 2010, and the series will be released online as independent, yet interrelated, segments beginning in the Fall.

A traditional documentary will also be created, pitched to major television outlets and played to film festivals across the country in 2011.

About the Producer

Michael Cervieri is an Emmy Award winning producer, Co-Founder of the communication strategy collective ScribeLabs, and Executive Producer of the organization’s publications. These include ScribeMedia.org which focuses on the business, technology and culture of digital media and SMAC.us, a contemporary arts, architecture and design publication that was selected as an Official Honoree of the 2009 Webby Awards.

Michael taught as an an adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism from 2006-2009 before transferring to the university’s School of International and Public Affairs where he created and now teaches a course on Internet and Mobile communication technologies and strategies for NGOs, non-profits, governmental agencies and citizen journalists.

We’ve worked with the Health 2.0 Conference over the past few years creating various videos that range from promotional (see below) to documentary.

This April, Health 2.0 brought their show to France and asked if we could make a three-minute video that targeted Europe and how patients and caregivers are using technologies to manage and care for disease conditions.

We said, No. No, we can’t do that.

Well, technically we could but trying to encompass the innovation occurring among hundreds of millions of people across almost thirty countries each with its own health care system, all under three minutes seemed a little, how do you say, overreaching.

So we simplified.

Instead, we said, the video’s purpose is to get people in the mood, put them in a proper frame of mind. It’s a set up to the themes, questions and opportunities that will be discussed during the course of the event so let’s take our three minutes to set the table. And then you should feast.

Besides, our budgetary leash was very, very short. No harm in that. We work with the resources we’re given.

So, with a nod to the pictograms of Gerd Arntz, we fired up Motion and mixed in the music of Baron Von Luxxury to create the above.

For text effects, we played off our original Health 2.0 video, The History of Medicine, below which itself is an homage to Michael Wesch’s The Machine is Us/ing Us.

• Et tu, Twitter? Here comes developer ire – http://bit.ly/d8LeIR #
• RT @atebits: Twitter is now the proud owner of Tweetie! Twitter blog http://bit.ly/Hljp3 and from me: http://bit.ly/9yCxx8 #
• RT @higgyb: And now another word, on the #unity3d blog, from David Helgason (CEO) about #iphone OS 4.0: http://bit.ly/b8FweU #
• WebKit2 May Bring Browser Changes: http://bit.ly/9IrHPU #
• videos – @scribemedia has videos up from the ARF’s rethink2010 conference http://bit.ly/cgnB0A #advertising #research #
• video: microsoft livelab’s gary flake showcases his latest experiment to resolve information overload: http://bit.ly/aAFBlJ #
• Here are 3 questions your email should answer in 8 seconds or less http://ow.ly/1vfGY (via @LuzPlaza) #
• New Twit Connect plugin lets your users login with their Twitter credentials: http://bit.ly/cBkr6m (ht @buddypressdev) #
• good luck in paris @boltyboy & @bluetopaz. hope the video treats your audience well. #
• Blog: Will Google and Apple do battle over mobile search – http://bit.ly/cQ1UhU #
• RT @scribemedia: blog: just like that, the ipad’s jailbroken: http://bit.ly/cf65bv #
• RT @bMunch: blog: As tech journalists drool over the iPad they miss the real story. http://bit.ly/9Fl6L2 #

• wordpress 3.0 beta has been released: http://bit.ly/dajixh #
• Developers talk about the difficulties of rethinking iPhone apps for the iPad: http://bit.ly/93CTBx (via @jason_pontin) #
• Nice overview of what different orgs are doing with #buddypress http://bit.ly/d04ZJF #
• hoping this isn’t an april fools. html5 port of Quake: http://is.gd/baFRw (ht @mathewi) #
• who’s making money with open source in the cloud? http://bit.ly/ajNyFe #
• The rate of tweeting about a movie accurately predicts its box office revenues: http://bit.ly/b4uK1n #
• Wordpress launches Vaultpress for secure blog backups: http://bit.ly/aa3l7r #
• video: creating prediction markets out of the wisdom of the crowds – http://bit.ly/aQQAlZ #
• Check out this list of Top 45 #Drupal Modules that you may have not have heard of: http://bit.ly/crTqBI (via @lullabot) #
• .@alexandralerman once called us the ’slow news movement’. so slowly, we’re launching our scribemedia FB page: http://bit.ly/biEeeY #