Community Process and the Media

Peter Zelchenko

http://zelchenko.comhttp://ward43.blogspot.com

pete@printchicago.com

Prewar media provided robust community

• Direct

• Newspapers

• Some radio

Postwar media

• Daily newspapers consolidate

• Weekly newspapers steady but dying off

• Radio news may be “community” but not “neighborhood”

• Television never was “neighborhood”

New media

• Early online not useful for neighborhoods

• Internet has created the possibility, and some headway, but structurally is more difficult than we think

• We’re also overwhelmed with media. What will filter through?

Just one case study: Lincoln Avenue SSA #35

• Officials claimed community was legally notified

• Officials believed that low turnout must have indicated there were few concerns

• We spam the neighborhood...

• We force a second meeting

• But the damage is already done

Most effective means for public notice

• Should have a feedback loop

• Well-saturated neighborhood newspaper

• Community radio? Cable?

• Direct: Blitzes and creatively done handbills

• Precinct newsletter

• We pilot “official public periodical” for Ald. Flores

Most effective means...

• Emerging new concept: RSS feeds

– An open standard: Aunt Mitzi’s Block Club blog + Tribune identical format

– Keyword indexing means dailies can play locally

– Instant notification and editorial flexibility

– Still in infancy

– Could have feedback loop

– Critical mass is there, but bringing into every home is not efficient

– Enormous community potential with appropriate appliances