Journalism That Matters comes to the Berkshires

ACT SOON for Sept. 11-13, 2009.

Here's the first notice of an important convening to figure out how to bring together digital and real communities in service of democracy. Will you help?

If you are a Journalism That Matters alum . . . a follower of the Media Giraffe Project . . . a news or teaching practioner . . . a technologist . . . or public-policy researcher, please consider taking a long weekend to The Berkshires of Massachusetts Sept. 11-13, 2009.

The Norman Rockwell Museum, the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism, and other co-covenors invite you to:

"Rebooting Rockwell's America:
News, Art and Community in a Digital World."

Friday, Sept. 11 - Sunday Sept. 13, 2009
at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Mass.

Participation limited -- register today!

For details, please start at our wiki home page:
http://www.rockwellreboot.org

Follow the links, or go directly to registration to taken advantage of our early-bird discount (through July 31):
https://www.123signup.com/event?id=jxxdm


BACKGROUND
==========

The America of Norman Rockwell's mid-20th-century illustrations was rich with simple truths and sometimes hard choices. In that world, we respected authority, and the flag. We were asked to embrace justice, equality and tolerance. The "Country Editor" personified the Four Freedoms at the grassroots.

On Sept. 11, 2001, it was as if the last vestiges of Rockwell's stoic, insular, yet generous nation had been torn asunder, and a new, darker period of fear engaged. A buy-now-pay-later ethic has brought some of our most valued journalism institutions to the brink. Now even the Missouri country editor works with bits and bytes alongside type and ink. Yet innovation abounds on the Internet, and we find new ways to connect and circulate. If Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter have taught us anything, it's that we may hunger for the constancy of community more than ever.

Can we reboot Rockwell's America in a digital age? Do we want to? What might be the role of art, and culture? Join us Sept. 11-13 to consider the options -- and tools.

"Rebooting Rockwell's America," will pause for three days to consider the roots of American community, freedom, democracy -- and the journalism which protects each. We'll consider how a generation of virtual pamphleteers -- in cafes, schools, clubs and meeting rooms -- might help point us to common ground via physical places. And now there is the promise that these places will be digitally united across a world that grows smaller, faster, more diverse and more precious by the year.

Do you have an idea for a thread or theme we should be following? Or a suggestion of a person or group we should invite. Please email
jtm@mediagiraffe.org.

Thanks . . . and see you Sept. 11!

For the Journalism That Matters collaborative . . .

Help stop online exploitation...

The internet is now a virtual mall for selling young women and men.

Victims of human trafficking and prostitution in America are caught in a world they did not make or choose. They are trapped in lives of constant violence, abuse and fear. Today, the majority of human trafficking and prostitution crimes in the United States are happening on the internet – which means the criminals selling these young people have infiltrated every neighborhood in America. In fact, they come directly into your home through your computer.

Right now, you can send a clear message to the internet companies involved in this kind of exploitation. Tell them you want online human trafficking and prostitution to stop today.

To get started, just go to StopOnlineExploitation.org. There, you’ll be able to automatically send written messages directly to the offices of your state’s Attorney General, elected officials and the CEO’s of companies offering commercial exploitative services of young people on their websites. You will also learn much more about the increasing commercial abuse of victims via the internet and everything you can do to bring it to an end.

If you would like to join us in this important work, you can get started immediately. Go to StopOnlineExploitation.org right now.

Thank you,

The Stop Online Exploitation Campaign

The Stop Online Exploitation Campaign is a growing coalition of human rights organizations - along with caring, private businesses and citizens - with one thing in common: We want online access to human trafficking and prostitution to stop immediately. That is why we have built the technology that allows you to easily send letters of concern directly to Craigslist, other operators of prostitution websites, U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., your State’s Attorney General, and your Federal Representatives, demanding that they take appropriate action to protect more people from abuse and possible violence.