Embedded Grassroots Journalism Behind Enemy Lines? Meh.

For surely Gannett and CNHI and the little players around, viciously protecting their print profits are 'the enemy' if they won't even communicate with me, right? (I should and try to treat them as such - feeding them as much as I can.) I sometimes feel like Hannibal tramping up and down Italy after crossing the Alps, though. He stayed there for years, in enemy territory, rallying troops to help him fight. Lots of mistakes he made, though. And he was defeated eventually. Lots of lessons there, though. Lots of other analogies to make. (Heh.) Anyway, a very good week. The week continues, though, because I've gotten my second wind. Living the life instead of working a job, ya know? Transparency, transparency, transparency. Systems of bartering - trade. Lots more.

Another heh in that Bryan Prohm (who stopped back by ECI on his way home to Chicago) mentioned they usually wanted people participating to sign NDAs. No one else had blogged it yet. Was it a subtle hint not to blog it? I'm sure it's ok. I expect to see 'them' move into the online space in a big way sometime soon.

Today, we met up at The Blue Bottle again, or at least in front of it. I decided on White River Landing, gambling whether or not we'd run into any TSP staffers. The new lifestyles editor was there (can't remember her name. sorry! Colleen Steffan?) Someone else, too, and maybe a faux pas with them, but I'm sure it's ok.

Heh. I'm repeating myself. After almost a year, patterns begin to emerge more clearly. Ideas leap back and forth - existing, possible, should do, would do, could do - that sort of thing. The plan begins to form - to materialize, come into focus. And I don't want to say anything about it yet, but I think it's a good one, a good plan.

Remember Hannibal and his strategies.

I'm still on the TSP forums - or, rather, Walter Winchell is. Heh. Whoever he might be. Anyway, I'm still fascinated by the place - a living breathing community. And Gannett, for all their talk, doesn't really see it. Why? Arrogance?

I talk to them (the citizens there, the community there), though, as openly as they allow me.

And I'm thinking of breaking down and giving the TSP money ($140 month!) for a three line class ad directing people to Muncie Free Press. I need to accellerate now maybe - take it to that next level. And the plan involves that. (Remember, I'm not a nut - well, not completely ;) - I realize that profit is good. I don't want the greed, though. Not the new boss same as the old boss.

Like my nephew (Alex Threet) who just turned one year old recently, I'm up on my feet and exploring the world, walking. Maybe still crawling. I don't know. (We're *almost* one year old - in reality - maybe 24 months in the mind as an idea...)

I have a good feeling, though. A really good feeling. The CAFO thing continues to build on a few different levels - groups joining together to fight things at a state level. And Gaston's citizens are pitching in. And some over here. And some over there.

Anyway, after introducing him to (some!) of the local new media thinkers in East Central Indiana this past Tuesday (Muncie, IN specifically - America's Hometown - Middletown Studies... hint/hint, nudge/nudge...) I wanted to show him the other side maybe - some citizens and business owners who were just taking their first steps online in small ways but realizing the potential.

Wanted to talk to Yorktown business owner expanding into Muncie, but he was tied up on the phone. Talked to someone hanging out there, though, about starting an online business. Good thoughts during the drive, too.

We headed out of Delaware County, Indiana and into Madison County. Farm land. Green. Open space. More thinking. Heh. Shoulda did a podcast.

Anyway, next stop was a woman, Cathy Goins, living out in the country. She's against factory farms being put in near Elwood, but she has very good journalistic qualities that she's been using to gether information. Very good discussion with her. She's one of my 'citizen journalist' stars - although I'm really starting to hate that term. (Loathe?) Can't wait to see the video of this and the rest.

Next was a local (small town East Central Indiana) business owner - computer repair - who's started his own website about Elwood, IN. (A little piece of the puzzle here for the observant reader...) Good thoughts here.

Last stop was 'the alley' where I have WiFi and peace and quiet and seclusion and birds chirping and shade trees and it's nice. It's a special place. Maybe not to everyone, but to me it is. We talked here with Almost Hank, MFP's Entertainment Director - a country music buff - a rich niche in the area.

So, I hope, I provided a complete look (or as much as we could fit into the time allotted) at some thoughts on Old Media, New Media, and Grassroots Media - a little bit of old journalism - just the best qualities - with a dash of the classic grassroots movement - and a hefty helping of New Media Technology.

And I realize this is just one (minor, perhaps) battle in the wider war of Independence that we wage. However, I'm starting to tramp around the Italian countryside, if you will.

History offers many lessons.

On a final, closing note for this late Friday night, early Saturday morning - I'm gonna open comments for a while here, I think. Shhhh! Don't tell the auto-bot spammers, though, k? Heh. We'll see how it goes.

I don't want to step on my community here, hinder its growth. (Thanks for stirring the thoughts on that, Amy Gahran. And also Ana's wise words about commenting (seeding) to get more comments.) Give and you shall receive.

The armies are massing. Slowly but surely, the plan begins to come into focus.

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