Rji-pivot-principles

Toward Agreement: Guiding principles, beliefs, values and assumptions discussed at RJI Pivot Point

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PIVOT POINT HOME / PROJECT SUMMARIES / GROUP BLOG / PRINCIPLES / PARTICIPANTS / KEY READINGS / COMMENTS / INTERVIEWS

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At the end of the first day of the RJI Pivot Point gathering in Chicago, facilitator Susan Leddick, of Bozeman, Mont., summarized the principles, beliefs, values and assumptions our group focused on.

The task: Envision next-generation means of providing context and relevant information in local communities

We believe that the presenting problem is that local communities are confused, disengaged with us, and ill-informed. What can we do -- based on emerging guiding principles -- to address this problem?

Guiding principles for the next generation of our industry are emerging but not yet comprehensive and refined:

• Know your communities.
• Be solution-oriented. (Be a positive force to empower communities to solve their crises.)
• Speak and point.
• Offer services valuable enough that people will pay for them.
• Create a marketplace for ideas across multiple media.
• Have a bias for innovation and change. (Experiment fast and cheaply.)
• Work with knowledgeable partners.
• Listen, lead, listen again.

These beliefs, values, and assumptions are important to us:

• Established practice and traditional beliefs in our industry are holding us back today.
• Journalism and community should be integrated, not held separate.
• You can be solution-oriented without taking a position.
• Strong human connections drive compelling value.
• New technologies will continue to shape our industry and communities.
• Tolerance for failure is essential.
• We will increasingly depend on the work of small teams.

Susan Leddick
susanleddk@pkrnet.com
552 Triple Tree Rd.
Bozeman, MT 59715
(O) 406 994-0303
(M) 512 431-2879