WRAL Tech Wire

'Mashup' in Greensboro focuses on innovation in journalism

Create or Die 2

By AP, WRAL Tech Wire

"Create or Die 2" is hosted by Elon University and UNC-Greensboro. The event began Thursday.

The goal of the meeting is to collaborate on a design, and to initiate and develop digital projects that raise diverse voices in new media. The event is expected to bring journalists, technologists, bloggers, educators, hackers, funders, community activists, designers, social entrepreneurs, and others who care about telling stories in diverse communities.

"To interrupt and disrupt the status quo and remake a new media ecology that is inclusive of diverse voices," the organizers say on the event's website as to why the event takes place.

The first Create or Die took place in Detroit.

Peggy Holman, co-founder of Journalism That Matters, says as new media finds its place, there can be a shift toward involving an increasingly diverse public. Holman says the challenge is bringing more diverse voices to the table and creating more viable business models.

"The gathering serves as a sandbox in which professionals ranging from programmers to journalists can initiate entrepreneurial journalism ventures," the group says. "At the same time, regional participants will incubate new ideas to re-invigorate the news ecology in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. The event is designed around result-driven conversations that spark collaboration and innovations."

Goals for the event include as spelled out by the organizers:

• Celebrating the pioneers, innovators and best practices in the new media arena.
• Examining the infrastructure and supports required to sustain journalism entrepreneurship by and for diverse communities.
• Connecting cross-disciplinary teams to advance new ideas and new projects.
• Fostering a dialogue about leveraging our knowledge network to transform access to content, finances, technology and policy that affects entrepreneurs and communities of color.
• Creating a strong and visible network of new media innovators across media sectors.

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