Public Forum on Journalism in Denver

We could just sit back and bemoan the crisis facing journalism. Or we could do something about it. We’re choosing the latter.

On Wednesday, Free Press’ SaveTheNews.org campaign is hosting a free community forum in Denver, Colo., to bring together concerned citizens, journalists, policymakers and community leaders to discuss what policies we need — and what actions we can take — to support quality journalism.

The forum, co-organized by IWantMyRocky.com, is the first local event for the SaveTheNews.org campaign. Panelists on the forum include:

• Polly Baca, co-chair of the Colorado Latino Forum and a former state senator
• Laura Frank, award-winning investigative reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network
• Wick Rowland, president and CEO of Colorado Public Television, KBDI-TV/12
• David Sirota, political journalist, nationally syndicated weekly newspaper columnist and bestselling author
• John Temple, former editor, president and publisher of the Rocky Mountain News and vice president of news for E.W. Scripps Co.
• Craig Aaron, senior program director, Free Press

More than a dozen local, grassroots organizations will also help to facilitate the event.

Why Denver? Earlier this year, the debate over the future of American journalism hit home in Denver when the 150-year-old Rocky Mountain News closed its doors. The city has also emerged as a vibrant testing ground where journalists and citizens are launching innovative new projects and debating what it will take to save the news both locally and nationally.

Why now? For too long, media policy has been neglected in discussions about the future of journalism. At the same time, the public and working journalists have been pushed to the margins of the debate. The problem is that a public conversation that excludes considerations of public policy leaves journalism to the whims of the marketplace.

Whereas markets drive people who are frustrated with the news (as they currently are) to throw up their hands and feel helpless to make a difference, policy allows the public to help shape the media. All of a sudden, communities matter, citizens are powerful, and journalism is back in the hands of you and me.

The Denver forum is about amplifying the voices that are too often left out of this debate. It's about charting a course toward stronger journalism that is accountable, innovative, and serves the public interest.

If you’re anywhere near Denver, you should plan on attending. For more information and a list of panelists, visit www.SavetheNews.org/Denver.

Or, if you’re nowhere near Denver, check back for more blog posts about the discussions. And if you have questions for the panelists in Denver, post them in the comment thread below.