Spent a lot of today talking and listening about new media and, specifically, citizen journalism - or maybe grassroots journalism. Both terms and more were brought up. Motorola, I guess, is scouring the globe, talking to people about the so called 'citizen journalism' movement. (While we're on it, what can we replace that term with? I don't think it should stick. Is it too late? Too early to name it?) Anyway, somehow, Muncie Free Press was brought up in enough other spheres for the company to send someone down to Muncie, IN to talk to me. (Still not newsworthy, though, I guess. Maybe I need a bus that pulls up to bars to do breast-shot vids ... Anyway... ;)

Motorola has been studying the Cit J movement for a while now, I guess. A month or so at least. They've talked to Dan Gillmor, Chi-Town Daily News, and a lot of others. (I told him he couldn't forget, of course, Lisa Williams of H20 Town and Deb Gallant of Baristanet! So, head's up ladies. ;)

Bryan Prohm, Director Business Intelligence, Motorola

I went into today not really knowing what to expect, I guess. I knew it was someone from a 'giant corporation.' I was surprised to meet a genuinely interesting person who was a little bit of maverick.

And he 'got it,' I think. I'm not sure if I told him anything he hasn't figured out already, but I talked - a lot.

I also arranged for him to meet with some of the other leaders in the new media sphere in Muncie. (No, no one from The Star Press was contacted. We critiqued that day's issue, though.)

Blue Bottle Coffee Shop in Downtown Muncie!

No citizens showed up, like I would have hoped, but we talked to Matt Howell, who's running the SpinWeb empire in Muncie. (Mike, the founder, is branching into the Indy market.) Very good discussion here. (Sorry for taking up so much time, Matt! ;)

Bryan Prohm (left) and Matt Howell, Spinweb

Bryan Prohm had brought a digital video camera along to take footage of some of the talks. I've been told I'll get a copy sometime, so we'll see on that. Should be interesting to see.

We also talked with Tommy Kane from Indiana Films. I let Prohm know that Tommy was person I was going to help start up a competiting website in the region (Delaware County.) Why, you ask?

Tommy Kane (far right)

Well, I got a great quote from Prohm today. I don't want "the new boss same as the old boss." You know? I mean, if the media revolution is successful (and it will be), I don't want to replace it with another system like Gannett and other big media corps have. (i.e. one or two big players dominating everything.) I want to spread the power around a little. There's more than enough money (i think) for all of us to have a little if we don't get greedy. Plus, doing it this way, Gannett is less able to 'buy out' anything that rises up in the gaps they're not filling so they can maintain that 30% profit margin. If me or someone else falls or buckles or whatever, I want others in place to continue the good fight.

I really should've gotten some audio today of the talks, but I was too into them, I think. Heh. Speaking of audio, though, while downtown in Muncie, I found a 'story' outside and got some quick audio and pics for a piece for Muncie Free Press - CitJ in action.

Cheryl Crowder, Muncie Downtown Development

We lunched with Larry Riley on campus. If you haven't heard me mention him before, Riley was and is my journalistic mentor. I never had him for any classes and he wasn't even involved in my sequence (magazine), but he was the one I learned the most from. He helped me in a lot of ways, something for which I'll be eternally grateful.

Larry Riley (left) and Bryan Prohm

Anyway, by this time we'd been talking about media and CitJ all morning, so the conversation died down a little, but it was still good. I learned a lot today, I think. Just talking to someone else interested in what I'm doing helped me flesh out and finalize some ideas that have been in the back of my mind for a while now. (Maybe I'll share that with you here soon.

So, Bryan Prohm, wherever you are tonight (seeking out what CitJ is about and how it's going to change things - in a big way), thanks for stopping by America's Hometown and talking with me and other people here.

Lots more to come, dear readers. Bear with me. ;)

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