ferrier research agenda-2016

Making visible the invisible in the hypertextual space

Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Associate Professor, E. W. Scripps School of JournalismScripps College of Communication, Ohio Universityferrierm@ohio.edu; @mediaghosts

The View from Here…

…And Here

Associate Professor , JournalismScripps College of Communication, Ohio University, OH; ferrierm@ohio.edu; Twitter: @mediaghosts

President, Journalism That MattersFounder, Create or Die Startup Gatherings

Founder, TrollBusters | @yoursosteam

Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Digital Identity and Reputation Management; Online Communities

EducatorEntrepreneurMentorScholarNew Media Innovator

Dr. Michelle Ferrier

My World View

Innovation Activities What was it?

BBS/Fax on Demand (Intrapreneur) Early technology adoption with members

NEAOnline (Intrapreneur) Developed first web presence for National Education Association on AOL

SimSchool (Intrapreneur) Development of school system simulation at NEA

Education Insider (Entrepreneur) Magazine startup for parents of school-aged children

EHCWired.com (Intrapreneur) First independent online college news site; first online course at the college (2002).

Media Power Lunch (Entrepreneur) Short, online learning for beginning journalists (MediaBistropredecessor)

Highlands Family (Entrepreneur) Hyperlocal, hybrid online/print news for families in Appalachia

CopyWash.com (Entrepreneur) Online copy editing services

Digital Identity/Reputation Management(Entrepreneur)

Patent pending technology on managing identity from one platform

MyTopiaCafe.com (Intrapreneur) Online community for newspaper nonsubscribers

LocallyGrownNews.com (Entrepreneur) Hyperlocal online news franchise

Media Deserts Project (Researcher) Uses GIS technologies to make visible the media ecosystem.

TrollBusters Natural Language Processing and Positive Messaging System

My Research Agenda

1. Media Deserts Project: Way of "seeing" that provides high-level view of the ecosystem.

2. Media Entrepreneurship: Creating pathways to innovation inside and outside the classroom.

3. Digital Identity and Reputation Management: TrollBusters and addressing cyberharassment.

Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Ohio University, @mediaghosts

Media Deserts: Defining Question

How have communities been affected by the changing media ecosystem?

Media Deserts Project

Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Ohio University, @mediaghosts

Using GIS tools, we map “media deserts” -- places where fresh news and information is lacking.

Modeled after the USDA Food Access Locator Map

What is a “Media Desert”?

Working Definition

A media desert is a geographic area that is lacking fresh news and information.

This condition may be as a result of a lack of content, access, language barriers and other issues.

Framework of Analysis I use Lawrence Lessig’s concept

of communications architecture:

CODE: Language, spoken or written or computer languages

CONTENT: News, information, images

CONDUIT: Newspapers, radio, mobile.

Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Elon University, @mediaghosts

Newspaper Layoffs and Buyouts

Year

2007

2008

2009

2010

Layoffs and Buyouts

2,256+ (partial data)

15,992+

14,783+

2,828+

Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Ohio University, @mediaghosts

120+ newspapers

More than 120 newspapers have ceased operation in the United States since 2008.

Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio

State Maps: Ohio

The Media Deserts Project

Awareness Action

• Audit of Community Information Sources

• Visualization of Current Information Sources

• Content Analysis of Existing Sources

• Assessing Community Characteristics for Sustainable Media Enterprises

• Community Engagement through Focused Gatherings

• Engaging Key Stakeholders in Developing Sustainable Media Enterprises

• Developing Face-to-Face and Virtual Public Spaces for Engagement/Community Conversations

“Under Threat” International News Safety Institute, 2015

“Under Threat” International News Safety Institute, 2015

Online Harassment: 40% and growing

Women publishers experience cyberbullyingon their sites.

General news sites have struggled with moderating online commenting.

Women Live Online and That’s Where They Find Us

Women Journalists Are Targeted Online

Our Solution

Our Goal: Fighting Hate with <3

TrollBusters provides just-in-time rescue services for women journalists, bloggers and publishers who experience online harassment.

We use our virtual S.O.S. team to send positive messages into online streams at the point of attack. We dilute the stings of trolls and other online pests to support you, your voice, your business and your reputation.

For additional information:Dr. Michelle Ferrier | @mediaghostsTrollBusters | @yoursosteam