Profiling TNN host community: What are the parameters?

In a very real sense, The Next Newsroom will be a partnership between a community that wants to help develop a 21^st century local news-gathering operation, and the journalists and supporters of the project who are willing to make a commitment to that partnership. Where will the prototype locate?

In earlier meetings of the Journalism That Matters group, some specific communities have been identified as potential launch sites for The Next Newsroom. In general, the communities identified could be grouped into three categories:

• College towns that aren’t oversaturated with other media.
• Smaller communities with vibrant local economies.
• Urban neighborhoods that are under the radar of metro newspapers and TV.

One possible community profile for a launch of The Next Newsroom:

• College town/college neighborhood;
• 200,000 population in town or neighborhood;
• 45,000 total households;
• 25,000 households with income of $50,000 or greater
• 65% broadband access;

What are some other profiles that would work?

A community that enters into a partnership for The Next Newsroom will need some of the following resources and community assets:

A desire to build a local news-gathering organization. The Next Newsroom needs to be launched in a place that understands the idea, embraces it, and sees value in a local newsgathering operation.

Minimal competition. Very likely, the community where The Next Newsroom locates is being overlooked by existing mainstream media, is being marginally served by other local media, or may not have any local newsgathering organization at all.

A sense of place. The Next Newsroom needs to be anchored in a geographic place that has a clear sense of wanting to be a distinct place, not just an unformed suburb or sub-set of another community. The Next Newsroom can help a community become a distinct, cohesive place.

Local leadership that enthusiastically wants to partner. Local leadership will need to help launch The Next Newsroom. These leaders may emerge from the business sector, education, municipal government, philanthropy or entrepreneurs. They will see this as a joint venture for the good of the community and participate in the formation of The Next Newsroom.

Commitment to a plan to build universal local broadband digital access. This access may be in place, or it may be part of the start-up effort. Wireless digital access for a significant portion of the community will be a goal.

Adequate household education and wealth to understand and embrace the project. This isn’t a project only for the wealthy. But to succeed, The Next Newsroom must be a project for a community where adequate resources, including education level, disposable income, and civic engagement can be tapped.

Significant access to higher education resources and institutions. The project needs some well-educated volunteers as community contributors, advisory board members, and researchers.

Local investors. This doesn’t mean only rich people. In fact, The Next Newsroom will look for a very broad base of investors and stakeholders. These could include foundations, municipal governments, local venture capitalists, small business cooperatives, civic groups, ``friends of the newsroom,’’ or others.