News-Record.com

I didn't mean to let a gorilla loose in the meeting room, (although the exercise might do us some of good). My comments about moving toward aggregating content has raised a few hackles -- no, concerns and questions is a fairer description -- of some in the room. Find them at TheShu and Ed Cone's and Pressthink and in the comments here and probably other places I haven't discovered.

I am excited about the possibilities presented by expanding the voice and reach and impact of journalism. Blogs are a vibrant addition to the more traditional formats of journalism. Blogs have scooped the newspaper. People talk to you and you talk back. Everyone who wants has a voice. It's journalism at its core.

We're trying to transform the newspaper, and blogging is changing the face of journalism. In my mind, it's a nice fit. For weeks now, I've read about the need for traditional journalism to change or die. As I paraphrased Mark Glaser from yesterday: Creating new content. Serving the public and allowing the public to serve journalism. Building a new way of doing smart, citizen journalism. More transparency. News as a conversation. It's a world the News & Record must play in. To expect us to stay away is unrealistic. We're in the news, opinion and information business, just like many of you.

We don't want to conquer. Our interest is to have a site that reflects the news, the conversations, the energy that is Greensboro, High Point and the Triad. The idea is to create a place for people to find stuff out and to engage. This is not just the concept for online; this is the concept for the newspaper.

I hear the concerns, I really do. I don't know the right model. Our vision isn't far enough along to answer many of your questions. We're experimenting and learning like everyone else. But as I look ahead, I don't think it is possible for us or any other media company to control/dominate/crush the citizen media. Really, we don't want to. As Ed Cone says, a strong local online community helps us all. And I add that it not only helps bloggers, but it helps make this place where we live a smarter community.

I could have this discussion in the newsroom or in a bar somewhere with friends...or I could have it at home with you guys, most of whom I don't know. That's pretty cool. And that, among other things, still makes it an exciting time to be in journalism.