Idea Lab

How Tiziano Project Beat CNN and NPR in the New Journalism Paradigm

by Jon Vidar
2011 Knight News Challenge Winner

"The next category is Community Collaboration," says the emcee as we slowly sink down in our seats at the Online Journalism Awards. We're resigned to defeat against our formidable competition, which includes both CNN and Andy Carvin for his social media-infused orchestration of NPR's coverage of the Arab Spring. No way are we going to win this category. "And the winner is ... The Tiziano Project!" Cue music scratching to a stop. Wait. What? I'm still processing. How did our tiny organization complete a project in Iraqi Kurdistan, with an all-volunteer team, that actually beat both CNN and NPR? The...

• October 13, 2011
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With The Tiziano Project, Citizen Media Evolves

by Jon Vidar
2011 Knight News Challenge Winner

In 2006, the phrase "community journalism" was exploding as a possible savior for the journalism industry (similar to the much-hyped hyper-local journalism today). Somewhere along the way, however, the concept got washed over by a sea of organizations simply distributing Flip Video cameras and expecting amazing content. Who needed a journalism degree? Promoting local voices is important, and it's easier than ever to have those views be heard. However, "community journalism" has another important word in the phrase -- journalism. The Tiziano Project provides community members in conflict, post-conflict, and underreported regions with the equipment, training and affiliations necessary to...

• August 15, 2011
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