From Media Giraffe

This wiki page is a companion to a web discussion forum at the Annenberg Public Policy Center website. If you haven't already done so, start there. The wiki is inspired by the essay: "Save American Journalism"and the report: "On Behalf of Journalism: A Manifesto for Change," of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, both by Geneva Overholser.

DOWNLOAD AND READ THE MANIFESTO (pdf)

Also: Geneva Overholser on journalistic objectivity.

Contents 1 What to do 2 How it works 3 I. Corporate realities: 3.1 Enable corporate managers to focus on longer-term goals 3.2 Bring a greater sense of responsibility to corporate governance of media companies 3.3 Enable shareholders to exert pressure for corporate responsibility 3.4 Conduct research showing links between good journalism and good business 3.5 Consider units within media companies dedicated to public-interest journalism 3.6 Establish partnership for quality journalism 3.7 Take public companies private 4 II. Not-for-profit media 4.1 Establish “Marshall Plan” by foundations and philanthropists 5 III. Journalists’ responsibilities 5.1 A. Objectivity 5.2 B. Accountability 5.3 C. Professionalization 6 IV. Speaking out for journalism 7 V. The role of government 8 VI. The role of the public 9 VII. New forms of media

[edit] What to do

• General comments about the "Manifesto for Change" are best posted within the Anneberg forum.
• On the other hand, if you have comments about a specific change proposal, you can use this wiki to, in effect, attach your observations, links or resource suggestions to that specific proposal.

[edit] How it works

To contribute to the manifesto, click on any of the bulleted items. You may edit or add to the page which opens by clicking the "edit" tab. You can then edit. When finished, click the "Save page" tab at the bottom. Appropriate additions might be pointers to experts on the topic, expanded thinking about how to achieve or modify the initiative, and links to any data, articles or other related resources.

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[edit] I. Corporate realities:

[edit] Enable corporate managers to focus on longer-term goals

• Elect board members for longer terms
• Change incentives for investors
• Impose punitive taxes on short-term stock trading
• Provide tax forgiveness on long-term holding

[edit] Bring a greater sense of responsibility to corporate governance of media companies

• Appoint directors with journalism experience
• Assign responsibility to board members to monitor editorial performance
• Tie incentive compensation for corporate officers to journalistic quality
• Discontinue stock options for newsroom staff and outside directors

[edit] Enable shareholders to exert pressure for corporate responsibility

• Bring concept of socially responsible investing to media companies

[edit] Conduct research showing links between good journalism and good business

• Make corporate officers aware of findings

[edit] Consider units within media companies dedicated to public-interest journalism

• Sheltered from normal profit pressures
• Portion of online revenues devoted to this purpose

[edit] Establish partnership for quality journalism

• Supported by funds from media companies
• Supported by foundations, nonprofits

[edit] Take public companies private

• Interest local citizens in these still highly profitable media enterprises
• Get nonprofits involved

[edit] II. Not-for-profit media

[edit] Establish “Marshall Plan” by foundations and philanthropists

• Increase support for nonprofit media organizations
• Foster new nonprofit media models

[edit] III. Journalists’ responsibilities

[edit] A. Objectivity

• Replace with process of verification

[edit] B. Accountability

• Strengthen through collaboration
• Create networks to enhance effectiveness
• Enhance transparency through use of e-mails, editors’ columns, etc.
• Media outlets conduct annual self-audits and make results public

[edit] C. Professionalization

• Institutionalize apprenticeships
• News organizations collaborate to support standards for journalists
• Establish independent council to track, promote, define independent news function in U.S.
• Emulate national board for teacher certification to provide credential
• Work to ensure that journalism graduate degrees achieve cachet of MBA

[edit] IV. Speaking out for journalism

• Journalists should assume a responsibility for speaking out on behalf of viable and independent media as individuals and through organizations
• Focus on freedom of information not as media privilege but as public right
• Produce radio/television shows whose segments focus on reporting
• Consider advertising/public-relations campaigns on behalf of journalism
• Journalism educators join forces to speak out for journalism (gather leaders of journalism organizations, foundations, universities and other institutions to form a coalition in support of public service journalism and freedom of the press)

[edit] V. The role of government

• Pass tax legislation to enable news companies to be organized as nonprofit, tax-exempt corporations
• Devote funds to be gained from government auction of publicly owned telecommunications spectrum to the provision of educational material in digital media
• Provide tax breaks for ethnic media and other under-heard voices
• Consider government-sponsored search engine

[edit] VI. The role of the public

• Pressure colleges to require civics education
• Push for more courses in news literacy, First Amendment
• Support news media in schools
• Expand Sunshine Week activities, move from annual to greater frequency
• Create and distribute field guides for news consumers

[edit] VII. New forms of media

• Encourage entrepreneurship in new delivery platforms
• Train new-media practitioners in old-media principles
• Provide tutorials for citizens in gathering and shaping news
• Create wire service of ethnic media to strengthen disparate voices