[MGP-Forum Announce] Mike Stoll (MGP2006/JTM2007) reports on San Francisco Public Press meeting

[Bill Densmore]

Michael Stoll and Josh Wilson, both particpants in Media Giraffe convenings in Amherst and Washington, D.C., are collaborating in San Francisco in a couple of ways to try and develop a web-centric "public press" non-profit initiative. Below is Stoll's report on a dinner meeting Nov. 27 and a notice of the next gathering. To follow progress of this effort, join their Yahoo Group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/publicpress/

Stoll writes:

"There were 15 people in attendance at Pauline's Pizza in SF to discuss the possibility of starting a new noncommercial daily news Web/print venture. We were:

Myself (Journalism instructor, San Jose State University)
Josh Wilson (Director, Independent Arts & Media; editor, Newsdesk.org)
Amanda Witherell (Reporter, SF Bay Guardian)
Steve Jones (City editor, SF Bay Guardian)
Cat Rauschuber (National Women's Political Caucus)
Jon Rochmis (Journalism instructor, San Francisco State & City College
of SF)
Kristin Smith (Journalism student, CCSF)
Marc Smolowitz (Development Director, AccessSF Cable TV)
Josh Koltun (First Amendment lawyer)
Tom Murphy (Editor, RedwoodAge.com; former head of SF AP bureau)
Pam MacLean (California bureau chief, National Law Journal)
Sarah Olson (Freelance radio/print reporter)
David Cohn (NewAssignment.net)
Kevin Rand (Journalism student, SJSU)
Lindsay Bryant (Journalism student, SJSU)

"There were also about 20 people who sent their regrets but said they wanted to be part of the process."

"Over four large pizzas and several bottles of wine we hashed out the beginnings of a consensus that something needs to be done to shore up public-service-oriented journalism in Northern California.

"I outlined an idea I've been nursing for a while: a high-tech, multimedia newsroom that produces local news on the Web, back-  published to a daily general-interest newspaper. The paper would be nonprofit, community-controlled and, like Consumer Reports magazine, would refuse advertising. It would make up the lost revenue through paper sales, subscription-memberships, "pledge"-style fund-raising and individual and foundation philanthropy.

"There was a hearty amount of debate on my particular vision, with Tom suggesting that we keep an open mind to other forms of ownership, such as employee cooperatives. Josh K. was adamant that we acknowledge that newsprint was possibly too costly, and that any project write a thorough business plan before approaching major funders. Amanda endorsed the ad-free vision, suggesting that one advantage of such publications is great reader loyalty.

"Josh K., Tom and David encouraged us to consider starting small as simply a Web site, while Marc, Amanda and Steve argued for the print product and the necessity of starting off with significant newsgathering resources. There was talk about whether to start with a little step or try to do it all at once, in one swell foop.

"We will meet again in two months, ***tentatively***:

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008
6:30 p.m. (We'll order out for Indian food)
Conference room of AccessSF*
1720 Market Street (at Valencia)
San Francisco
* A conference call line will be set up for those unable to attend in
person.

Thanks, all!

Michael Stoll
mstoll at public-press.org
San Francisco
(415) 846-3983 cell anytime