when I started in journalism the Internet has been around for 15 years I
Internet has been around for 15 years I
Internet has been around for 15 years I was covering the Arab Spring engulfing
was covering the Arab Spring engulfing
was covering the Arab Spring engulfing Libya Tunisia and Egypt really using
Libya Tunisia and Egypt really using
Libya Tunisia and Egypt really using social media and I was helping to
social media and I was helping to
social media and I was helping to produce a nightly news show PBS newshour
when the small town of Libya was being
when the small town of Libya was being shelled by Gaddafi forces I use social
shelled by Gaddafi forces I use social
shelled by Gaddafi forces I use social media
media
media to locate a professor there hunkered
to locate a professor there hunkered
to locate a professor there hunkered down in his house afraid for his life
down in his house afraid for his life
down in his house afraid for his life but he was willing to share his story we
but he was willing to share his story we
but he was willing to share his story we couldn’t identify his identity but his
couldn’t identify his identity but his
couldn’t identify his identity but his story was gripping it felt powerful and
story was gripping it felt powerful and
story was gripping it felt powerful and important and in a very small way it
important and in a very small way it
important and in a very small way it felt like a pinnacle of my journalism
felt like a pinnacle of my journalism
felt like a pinnacle of my journalism career here I was a girl from Kazakhstan
career here I was a girl from Kazakhstan
career here I was a girl from Kazakhstan who used to sell shock absorbers out of
who used to sell shock absorbers out of
who used to sell shock absorbers out of human’s apartment covering the biggest
human’s apartment covering the biggest
human’s apartment covering the biggest international story of the world of the
international story of the world of the
international story of the world of the of the world really for the American
of the world really for the American
of the world really for the American news show
news show
news show but then weeks passed and I keep
but then weeks passed and I keep
but then weeks passed and I keep thinking about that professor what
thinking about that professor what
thinking about that professor what happened to him was he okay I tried to
happened to him was he okay I tried to
happened to him was he okay I tried to get in touch to no avail
get in touch to no avail
get in touch to no avail and then when I started working for a
and then when I started working for a
and then when I started working for a local newspaper here in Pittsburgh I
local newspaper here in Pittsburgh I
local newspaper here in Pittsburgh I realized what was missing in that story
realized what was missing in that story
realized what was missing in that story and that is I wasn’t really the
and that is I wasn’t really the
and that is I wasn’t really the stakeholder of the Zawiya story you know
stakeholder of the Zawiya story you know
stakeholder of the Zawiya story you know I was with a show we moved with a new
I was with a show we moved with a new
I was with a show we moved with a new cycle new countries new social media
cycle new countries new social media
cycle new countries new social media connections and what was I really doing
connections and what was I really doing
connections and what was I really doing was a holding Muammar Gaddafi
was a holding Muammar Gaddafi
was a holding Muammar Gaddafi accountable the Libya dictator as
accountable the Libya dictator as
accountable the Libya dictator as powerful as PBS is I’m sure he didn’t
powerful as PBS is I’m sure he didn’t
powerful as PBS is I’m sure he didn’t care and that’s the world we’re in right
care and that’s the world we’re in right
care and that’s the world we’re in right from the streets
from the streets
from the streets of Pittsburgh to the penthouses of Paris
of Pittsburgh to the penthouses of Paris
of Pittsburgh to the penthouses of Paris we you know everybody with internet
we you know everybody with internet
we you know everybody with internet connection can get access to all human
connection can get access to all human
connection can get access to all human knowledge available on the web and then
knowledge available on the web and then
knowledge available on the web and then the curators of that information are
the curators of that information are
the curators of that information are also have different understandings of
also have different understandings of
also have different understandings of what those responsibilities are you know
what those responsibilities are you know
what those responsibilities are you know who decides what Fitz what’s fit to
who decides what Fitz what’s fit to
who decides what Fitz what’s fit to print on the web what’s fit to publish
print on the web what’s fit to publish
print on the web what’s fit to publish everyone who is holding anyone
everyone who is holding anyone
everyone who is holding anyone accountable no one really and here we
accountable no one really and here we
accountable no one really and here we are in the world where the newspapers
are in the world where the newspapers
are in the world where the newspapers have been disappearing and their
have been disappearing and their
have been disappearing and their business models have been eroding in the
business models have been eroding in the
business models have been eroding in the past 40 years 25 percent of the
past 40 years 25 percent of the
past 40 years 25 percent of the newspapers have completely disappeared
newspapers have completely disappeared
newspapers have completely disappeared the newsroom staff again have been
the newsroom staff again have been
the newsroom staff again have been caught in 2017 the newspaper reporter
caught in 2017 the newspaper reporter
caught in 2017 the newspaper reporter has been determined to be the worst job
has been determined to be the worst job
has been determined to be the worst job to have worse than a lumberjack or a
to have worse than a lumberjack or a
to have worse than a lumberjack or a pest control worker but in all of these
pest control worker but in all of these
pest control worker but in all of these you know pursuit of cliques clickbait
you know pursuit of cliques clickbait
you know pursuit of cliques clickbait listicles meaningless stories speed we
listicles meaningless stories speed we
listicles meaningless stories speed we have we forgot that the production of
have we forgot that the production of
have we forgot that the production of public service journalism is really
public service journalism is really
public service journalism is really important for our society the type of
important for our society the type of
important for our society the type of public service journalism that Thomas
public service journalism that Thomas
public service journalism that Thomas Jefferson had said that he would prefer
Jefferson had said that he would prefer
Jefferson had said that he would prefer in the absence of government rather than
in the absence of government rather than
in the absence of government rather than vice versa
vice versa
vice versa instead what we have is what we feed our
instead what we have is what we feed our
instead what we have is what we feed our readers are you know the what Morgan
readers are you know the what Morgan
readers are you know the what Morgan Spurlock fed his stomach you have you
Spurlock fed his stomach you have you
Spurlock fed his stomach you have you know the body politic really suffers on
know the body politic really suffers on
know the body politic really suffers on a steady diet of waterskiing squirrels
a steady diet of waterskiing squirrels
a steady diet of waterskiing squirrels in propaganda but what is journalism why
in propaganda but what is journalism why
in propaganda but what is journalism why do we need it why is it so important why
do we need it why is it so important why
do we need it why is it so important why is the Free Press enshrined in the First
is the Free Press enshrined in the First
is the Free Press enshrined in the First Amendment it is about truth
Amendment it is about truth
Amendment it is about truth why truth is important well democracy
why truth is important well democracy
why truth is important well democracy depends on truth because without true
depends on truth because without true
depends on truth because without true we don’t have trust without trust we
we don’t have trust without trust we
we don’t have trust without trust we don’t have the rule of law and without
don’t have the rule of law and without
don’t have the rule of law and without the rule of law we don’t have democracy
the rule of law we don’t have democracy
the rule of law we don’t have democracy historian Timothy Snyder said it
historian Timothy Snyder said it
historian Timothy Snyder said it eloquently and another thing is that
eloquently and another thing is that
eloquently and another thing is that journalism is really public service
journalism is really public service
journalism is really public service journalism it is supposed to serve the
journalism it is supposed to serve the
journalism it is supposed to serve the public to afflict the comfortable and
public to afflict the comfortable and
public to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted to rock the boat
comfort the afflicted to rock the boat
comfort the afflicted to rock the boat to shake the status quo what do you
to shake the status quo what do you
to shake the status quo what do you think when I say journalism you’re
think when I say journalism you’re
think when I say journalism you’re probably thinking of this you know
probably thinking of this you know
probably thinking of this you know name’s Walter Cronkite dan Rather
name’s Walter Cronkite dan Rather
name’s Walter Cronkite dan Rather Anderson Cooper you might be thinking of
Anderson Cooper you might be thinking of
Anderson Cooper you might be thinking of big names like the New York Times Fox
big names like the New York Times Fox
big names like the New York Times Fox News and PR or you might be thinking of
News and PR or you might be thinking of
News and PR or you might be thinking of these guys Jon Stewart Trevor Noah and
these guys Jon Stewart Trevor Noah and
these guys Jon Stewart Trevor Noah and John Oliver with his beautiful British
John Oliver with his beautiful British
John Oliver with his beautiful British accent but these are national big
accent but these are national big
accent but these are national big organizations that are not really in
organizations that are not really in
organizations that are not really in trouble you know they’re called fake
trouble you know they’re called fake
trouble you know they’re called fake news and but good journalism is being
news and but good journalism is being
news and but good journalism is being being produced in America and we see it
being produced in America and we see it
being produced in America and we see it every day what is really in trouble is
every day what is really in trouble is
every day what is really in trouble is local news don’t take my word for it I
local news don’t take my word for it I
local news don’t take my word for it I don’t know how the editor of the New
don’t know how the editor of the New
don’t know how the editor of the New York Times got hold of my slides but he
York Times got hold of my slides but he
York Times got hold of my slides but he did say say this week that the biggest
did say say this week that the biggest
did say say this week that the biggest crisis in American journalism is local
crisis in American journalism is local
crisis in American journalism is local news I couldn’t verify if the Russians
news I couldn’t verify if the Russians
news I couldn’t verify if the Russians were involved but then what do you think
were involved but then what do you think
were involved but then what do you think of when I say local news you’re probably
of when I say local news you’re probably
of when I say local news you’re probably thinking of big you know channels you’re
thinking of big you know channels you’re
thinking of big you know channels you’re thinking of the local newspaper you’re
thinking of the local newspaper you’re
thinking of the local newspaper you’re thinking of the radio stations or you
thinking of the radio stations or you
thinking of the radio stations or you might be thinking of this guy right Ron
might be thinking of this guy right Ron
might be thinking of this guy right Ron Burgundy you know we like to laugh at
Burgundy you know we like to laugh at
Burgundy you know we like to laugh at local news but no wonder right because
local news but no wonder right because
local news but no wonder right because is it public service to know the three
is it public service to know the three
is it public service to know the three ways the Steelers can win the game is it
ways the Steelers can win the game is it
ways the Steelers can win the game is it public service to know that six ways elk
public service to know that six ways elk
public service to know that six ways elk mating is gets Pennsylvania going or
mating is gets Pennsylvania going or
mating is gets Pennsylvania going or seven
seven
seven Strong’s you had no idea existed in your
Strong’s you had no idea existed in your
Strong’s you had no idea existed in your city well that’s not really public
city well that’s not really public
city well that’s not really public service but public service journalism is
service but public service journalism is
service but public service journalism is important to the fulfillment of the
important to the fulfillment of the
important to the fulfillment of the dream that we have as the city to take
dream that we have as the city to take
dream that we have as the city to take us to the next level because as the city
us to the next level because as the city
us to the next level because as the city we need journalism that actually it
we need journalism that actually it
we need journalism that actually it tells us how could we do better how
tells us how could we do better how
tells us how could we do better how could we become the society we really
could we become the society we really
could we become the society we really want to be pittsburgh for all the city
want to be pittsburgh for all the city
want to be pittsburgh for all the city for all the kind that our mayor likes to
for all the kind that our mayor likes to
for all the kind that our mayor likes to talk about well you know and then there
talk about well you know and then there
talk about well you know and then there are the stories like this public service
are the stories like this public service
are the stories like this public service to talk for a week about catfish I’m
to talk for a week about catfish I’m
to talk for a week about catfish I’m with the Penguins fan by the way then we
with the Penguins fan by the way then we
with the Penguins fan by the way then we have stories like this about power
have stories like this about power
have stories like this about power outages the stories that get a life like
outages the stories that get a life like
outages the stories that get a life like that live for 15 minutes then you have
that live for 15 minutes then you have
that live for 15 minutes then you have stories like where you can find the
stories like where you can find the
stories like where you can find the cheapest gas or you can see you know
cheapest gas or you can see you know
cheapest gas or you can see you know endless weather stories that just
endless weather stories that just
endless weather stories that just consume us and we hear again and again
consume us and we hear again and again
consume us and we hear again and again who gets to report the first raindrops
who gets to report the first raindrops
who gets to report the first raindrops first but then you know you hear well
first but then you know you hear well
first but then you know you hear well maybe that’s what people want this is
maybe that’s what people want this is
maybe that’s what people want this is what people want we give them what they
what people want we give them what they
what people want we give them what they want but is it really what they want we
want but is it really what they want we
want but is it really what they want we asked a few people what do you want from
asked a few people what do you want from
asked a few people what do you want from local news what they say is I want
local news what they say is I want
local news what they say is I want stories that relate to me I want the
stories that relate to me I want the
stories that relate to me I want the story with accurate information
story with accurate information
story with accurate information I want stories that cover inconvenient
I want stories that cover inconvenient
I want stories that cover inconvenient topics unsatisfied by trivialities
topics unsatisfied by trivialities
topics unsatisfied by trivialities I want depth so what’s the solution you
I want depth so what’s the solution you
I want depth so what’s the solution you know the Internet has given us a lot of
know the Internet has given us a lot of
know the Internet has given us a lot of powerful tools but it also has you know
powerful tools but it also has you know
powerful tools but it also has you know disintegrated the fabric oh that used to
disintegrated the fabric oh that used to
disintegrated the fabric oh that used to rely on newspapers and I think that the
rely on newspapers and I think that the
rely on newspapers and I think that the solution does not lie on the legacy news
solution does not lie on the legacy news
solution does not lie on the legacy news organizations that have been there and
organizations that have been there and
organizations that have been there and not fulfilling the purpose of public
not fulfilling the purpose of public
not fulfilling the purpose of public service journalist making it survival
service journalist making it survival
service journalist making it survival though with they do try to do that work
though with they do try to do that work
though with they do try to do that work but it becomes harder and harder the
but it becomes harder and harder the
but it becomes harder and harder the future of
future of
future of public service local public service
public service local public service
public service local public service journalism lies in smaller nonprofit
journalism lies in smaller nonprofit
journalism lies in smaller nonprofit newsrooms that believe that that type of
newsrooms that believe that that type of
newsrooms that believe that that type of journalism is important for the
journalism is important for the
journalism is important for the communities that we want to live in as
communities that we want to live in as
communities that we want to live in as Clay Shirky said society doesn’t need
Clay Shirky said society doesn’t need
Clay Shirky said society doesn’t need newspapers what we need is journalism
newspapers what we need is journalism
newspapers what we need is journalism let me ask you what kind of society do
let me ask you what kind of society do
let me ask you what kind of society do you want to live in do you want to live
you want to live in do you want to live
you want to live in do you want to live in a society that is diverse that is
in a society that is diverse that is
in a society that is diverse that is informed that is comfortable in taking a
informed that is comfortable in taking a
informed that is comfortable in taking a closer look and what’s wrong and how key
closer look and what’s wrong and how key
closer look and what’s wrong and how key we can fix it or do you want to this lit
we can fix it or do you want to this lit
we can fix it or do you want to this lit to live in a society that is scared
to live in a society that is scared
to live in a society that is scared lives in its own online bubbles that is
lives in its own online bubbles that is
lives in its own online bubbles that is alienating important members of the
alienating important members of the
alienating important members of the community I hope you believe you want to
community I hope you believe you want to
community I hope you believe you want to live in the society that is the former
live in the society that is the former
live in the society that is the former so that’s where public service
so that’s where public service
so that’s where public service journalism is really important because
journalism is really important because
journalism is really important because what does what do we do what does public
what does what do we do what does public
what does what do we do what does public service journalism I do it gives voice
service journalism I do it gives voice
service journalism I do it gives voice to the voiceless
to the voiceless
to the voiceless it gives it covers stories that are not
it gives it covers stories that are not
it gives it covers stories that are not about just you know shooting happen
about just you know shooting happen
about just you know shooting happen amend that shot but it cut it looks into
amend that shot but it cut it looks into
amend that shot but it cut it looks into you know that 50% of murders in
you know that 50% of murders in
you know that 50% of murders in Pittsburgh in 2016 were not solved and
Pittsburgh in 2016 were not solved and
Pittsburgh in 2016 were not solved and Cassidy’s mom is one of them and it’s
Cassidy’s mom is one of them and it’s
Cassidy’s mom is one of them and it’s important to tell his story it’s the
important to tell his story it’s the
important to tell his story it’s the story like Mona Spencer who has been
story like Mona Spencer who has been
story like Mona Spencer who has been homeless and really an orphan and she
homeless and really an orphan and she
homeless and really an orphan and she finds resilience and strength in
finds resilience and strength in
finds resilience and strength in fulfilling her dreams of pursuing
fulfilling her dreams of pursuing
fulfilling her dreams of pursuing education is journalism that covers
education is journalism that covers
education is journalism that covers voices like Gary Reeves who has been a
voices like Gary Reeves who has been a
voices like Gary Reeves who has been a victim of gentrification and has been
victim of gentrification and has been
victim of gentrification and has been when his story is told feels very
when his story is told feels very
when his story is told feels very grateful for it it’s the stories that
grateful for it it’s the stories that
grateful for it it’s the stories that drive change that tells us what’s wrong
drive change that tells us what’s wrong
drive change that tells us what’s wrong with our education with our perception
with our education with our perception
with our education with our perception that the stories that educate our
that the stories that educate our
that the stories that educate our teachers on how to be better at what
teachers on how to be better at what
teachers on how to be better at what they do it’s the stories that serve you
they do it’s the stories that serve you
they do it’s the stories that serve you as as a watchdog to tell you how yet
as as a watchdog to tell you how yet
as as a watchdog to tell you how yet tax money is being spent it’s the
tax money is being spent it’s the
tax money is being spent it’s the stories that give you tools that teach
stories that give you tools that teach
stories that give you tools that teach you how to use publicly available
you how to use publicly available
you how to use publicly available records to be an active and engage
records to be an active and engage
records to be an active and engage citizen there are organizations that
citizen there are organizations that
citizen there are organizations that support that type of journalism public
support that type of journalism public
support that type of journalism public service journalism journalism that sees
service journalism journalism that sees
service journalism journalism that sees its mission for public good there are a
its mission for public good there are a
its mission for public good there are a lot of foundations locally and
lot of foundations locally and
lot of foundations locally and nationally who have been advocates and
nationally who have been advocates and
nationally who have been advocates and supporters of that type of journalism
supporters of that type of journalism
supporters of that type of journalism and we are eternally grateful for that
and we are eternally grateful for that
and we are eternally grateful for that support but there is also an important
support but there is also an important
support but there is also an important component and that is you so what can
component and that is you so what can
component and that is you so what can you do what can you do to empower public
you do what can you do to empower public
you do what can you do to empower public service journalism well first of all
service journalism well first of all
service journalism well first of all reward good journalism it’s really
reward good journalism it’s really
reward good journalism it’s really important that you read it right and you
important that you read it right and you
important that you read it right and you also it’s really important that if you
also it’s really important that if you
also it’s really important that if you have young people in your life you teach
have young people in your life you teach
have young people in your life you teach them with kind of stories a meaning
them with kind of stories a meaning
them with kind of stories a meaning meaningful stories you also you know
meaningful stories you also you know
meaningful stories you also you know with so much choice on the web it’s also
with so much choice on the web it’s also
with so much choice on the web it’s also important for you to make your choices
important for you to make your choices
important for you to make your choices deliberate because it’s an opportunity
deliberate because it’s an opportunity
deliberate because it’s an opportunity cost when you’re reading meaningless
cost when you’re reading meaningless
cost when you’re reading meaningless stories you’re not reading these stories
stories you’re not reading these stories
stories you’re not reading these stories that are important to your community
that are important to your community
that are important to your community well so you should use your brain use
well so you should use your brain use
well so you should use your brain use your critical thinking see is it an
your critical thinking see is it an
your critical thinking see is it an opinion piece that you’re reading is it
opinion piece that you’re reading is it
opinion piece that you’re reading is it a news report is it a breaking news
a news report is it a breaking news
a news report is it a breaking news story is it actually a story that relies
story is it actually a story that relies
story is it actually a story that relies on good sourcing and has gone through a
on good sourcing and has gone through a
on good sourcing and has gone through a thorough check and also see who’s quoted
thorough check and also see who’s quoted
thorough check and also see who’s quoted in those stories you would actually be
in those stories you would actually be
in those stories you would actually be surprised in how many times you will see
surprised in how many times you will see
surprised in how many times you will see just men being quoted in those stories
just men being quoted in those stories
just men being quoted in those stories it happens quite often in Pittsburgh and
it happens quite often in Pittsburgh and
it happens quite often in Pittsburgh and also hold media companies accountable if
also hold media companies accountable if
also hold media companies accountable if you are not satisfied with the type of
you are not satisfied with the type of
you are not satisfied with the type of reporting they are doing call them out
reporting they are doing call them out
reporting they are doing call them out on it write letters to the editor
on it write letters to the editor
on it write letters to the editor comment call the editor and if you know
comment call the editor and if you know
comment call the editor and if you know get to know your journalists that cover
get to know your journalists that cover
get to know your journalists that cover your community in the issues that you
your community in the issues that you
your community in the issues that you care about they’re people too
care about they’re people too
care about they’re people too and speak up be heard if you feel like
and speak up be heard if you feel like
and speak up be heard if you feel like there is a story that is not being
there is a story that is not being
there is a story that is not being covered right now talk about it find a
covered right now talk about it find a
covered right now talk about it find a news organizations that actually will
news organizations that actually will
news organizations that actually will find that your story is important to be
find that your story is important to be
find that your story is important to be told and will tell it and support good
told and will tell it and support good
told and will tell it and support good journalism you know all of that all of
journalism you know all of that all of
journalism you know all of that all of those hours of fact-checking and finding
those hours of fact-checking and finding
those hours of fact-checking and finding good stories and including all of these
good stories and including all of these
good stories and including all of these sources it costs money so support good
sources it costs money so support good
sources it costs money so support good journalism and lastly I am I’m an
journalism and lastly I am I’m an
journalism and lastly I am I’m an optimist that the that public service
optimist that the that public service
optimist that the that public service journalism is going to survive and it’s
journalism is going to survive and it’s
journalism is going to survive and it’s going to thrive as we are figuring out
going to thrive as we are figuring out
going to thrive as we are figuring out what the future of journalism looks like
what the future of journalism looks like
what the future of journalism looks like I also am NOT going back to Washington
I also am NOT going back to Washington
I also am NOT going back to Washington DC to cover Libya stories I am the stake
DC to cover Libya stories I am the stake
DC to cover Libya stories I am the stake holder in Pittsburgh success and I it’s
holder in Pittsburgh success and I it’s
holder in Pittsburgh success and I it’s my home and I hope that all of these
my home and I hope that all of these
my home and I hope that all of these moments and stories that matter to
moments and stories that matter to
moments and stories that matter to Pittsburgh that Mona Spencer story of
Pittsburgh that Mona Spencer story of
Pittsburgh that Mona Spencer story of her being able to fulfill her dream with
her being able to fulfill her dream with
her being able to fulfill her dream with a Jerry Eve story of him of him being
a Jerry Eve story of him of him being
a Jerry Eve story of him of him being able to speak up and get his voice heard
able to speak up and get his voice heard
able to speak up and get his voice heard they are all important but they are just
they are all important but they are just
they are all important but they are just moments we need to make public service
moments we need to make public service
moments we need to make public service journalism a movement please help us
journalism a movement please help us
journalism a movement please help us make it a movement help us speak truth
make it a movement help us speak truth
make it a movement help us speak truth to power Pittsburgh thank you
to power Pittsburgh thank you
to power Pittsburgh thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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