Coming out of the brainstorming session on a new program for bloggers and editors of hyper-local news sites, we were left with these thoughts
A brief summary of what you told us:
- You see the value of meeting in person, but you are pressed for time.
- You want to increase readership (and sometimes revenue), but find it challenging to attract a local advertising base or to make a living from your site.
- Many of you are idealists, driven by the desire to help your local communities by telling stories that rarely appear in mainstream media.
- Some of you would like to learn about online data to enrich your knowledge and storytelling.
- Most of you were interested in receiving mentoring and technical support.
- Most of you were interested in the broad definition of health that we advance: looking beyond the doctor's office to the health of your community, as measured by education, jobs, safety, life expectancy, environmental safety, and neighborhood cohesion.
Fellowship Plan:
- We plan to host two sessions (currently slated for December and February).
- Each session would last two and a half days, starting on a Thursday evening and ending at 5 p.m. Saturday. We would keep in touch with you in between the two gatherings and after session two. We would also offer you free technical assistance and mentoring on health topics during, in between and after the sessions.
- Sessions, combining hands-on workshops with moderated discussions led by experts, would include:
- Opportunities for informal opportunities to learn from each other.
- A field trip or two to show you ways that health can be influenced by safe housing, urban infrastructure, the availability of wholesome, affordable food, and more.
- One-on-one or small group discussions with advisers on your site's specific needs.
What Participation Includes: The cost of hotel, field trips, courses, airfare, and meals. We would also bring in advisers in areas such as search engine optimization, marketing, building participation, and improving content. These advisers, plus mentors with expertise on health, would be available at no charge between the first and second sessions and for two months after the second session.
Why Participate: You will gain confidence, skills, sources and new storytelling approaches on the diverse circumstances of residents of your community. You will acquire new perspectives and new colleagues. You will "graduate" with tools to improve the "health" and sustainability of your own site.
How to Apply: Applicants would fill out an online application that would require a personal statement and a description of a fellowship project to be completed as a condition of participation. Eight to 12 participants would be chosen through a competitive process.