The Sweeney Center for Public Policy and the Rowan University Department of Journalism are hosting a major conference on “The Future of Journalism: New Models, Digital Transformations, and the Public Interest” at Rowan University on Wednesday, May 21.
“Journalism in New Jersey and across the nation has been undergoing a critical transformation, with newspapers closing, reporting staffs shrinking and local news coverage in decline,” said Sweeney Center Director Mark Magyar. “But the ongoing crisis has also spurred innovation, with nonprofits emerging to preserve and expand news coverage, digital sites springing up with new business models and increased collaboration among news organizations, particularly on investigative reporting.”
Speakers include:
- Ken Herts, chief operating officer of The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, nonprofit owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer
- Enrique Lavin, editor, online newspapers NJ Advance Media / The Star-Ledger / NJ.com
- Amanda Richardson, executive director of the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media, nonprofit publisher of the New Jersey Hills Media Group and the West Essex Tribune
- Michael M. Shapiro, founder and CEO, Tapinto.net
- Stefanie Murray, executive director of the Center for Cooperative Media, Montclair State University
- Terrence McDonald, editor of New Jersey Monitor, part of the 50-state nonprofit States Newsroom
- Chris Daggett, president of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium
- Marc Pfeiffer, author of “The Future of New Jersey Journalism: Evolution, Not Extinction.”
“Journalism continues to face economic difficulties because the industry lost its longtime funding model of subscriptions and advertisements. However, new methods of news gathering and delivery are emerging, especially in the areas of local news and independent journalism,” said Kathryn Quigley, chairperson of the Department of Journalism, Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, Rowan University.
The conference is free. Registration and breakfast open at 8:00 a.m. The program will run from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Rowan University’s Chamberlain Student Center Eynon Ballroom, 201 Mullica Hills Road, Glassboro. Lunch is included. To register, click here.
