“RJI’s strategy is to support projects that make a tangible difference in the practice of journalism,” says Pam Johnson, RJI’s Executive Director.  “Not only do we partner with established organizations, we work to create networks of citizens and journalists.”

This week’s workshop, organized by Journalism That Matters, is an example. The action-oriented discussion will include civic organizations, businesses, government, and activists.

Upcoming 2010 events sponsored by RJI:
• Journalism that Matters: Re-imagining News and Community in the Northwest: An "unconference," Jan. 7 - 10
• Webinar: SNA Suburban Market Study Results and Opportunities, Jan. 28
• Webinar: The Erosion of Press Freedom in North America, Feb 9
• Digital Publishing Alliance meeting, March 7 – 9
• Center for the Digital Globe: Cutting edge ideas for the future of media, March 14 – 17

For more information about each event, see below for a full description:

Journalism That Matters: Re-imagining News & Community in the Pacific NW
An “unconference”
When: Jan. 7 - 10
Where: the University of Washington, Seattle campus, open to the public
Cost: pay-what-you-can sliding scale fee structure of $50-$250 for the entire conference.
Pre-registration required: www.journalismthatmatters.org. 
Who’s attending: http://www.journalismthatmatters.org/JTM-PNW-WhosComing
Topics: new information sources, business models, economic solutions and accountability measures that work to create a revitalized journalism; how networking and civic engagement organizations can partner with communicators to effect positive social, political and economic change.
Co-sponsors: Microsoft Corporation and the James S. and John L. Knight Foundation

Webinar: The Erosion of Press Freedom in North America
When: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 3 – 5 pm (CST)
Where: Livestream from the Fred W. Smith Forum at the Reynolds Journalism Institute
Speakers: Lucy Daglish, executive director, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Toni Lacy, former reporter; Phil Gailey, editor of editorials, St. Petersburg Times; Stuart Loory, Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies at the Missouri School of Journalism; Marty Kaiser, editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Charles Davis, executive director, National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC)

Webinar: 2009 SNA Suburban Market Study Results and Opportunities
When: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 1:00 pm (CST)
Cost: SNA Members: FREE; Nonmembers: FREE
Pre-registration required: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/362982082
Speaker: Susan Karol, executive director, SNA Foundation
Topics: How do consumers use local newspapers and their related Web sites? What news areas generate the most interest? How are they using newspaper advertising – both ROP and preprints – to make shopping decisions? How does this compare to advertising in other media? Where are they shopping and what do they intend to purchase? Are they travelling? What do consumers want from community Web sites? One-hour webinar will answer these questions and present results from the 2009 SNA Suburban Market Study conducted by the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri.

Digital Publishing Alliance meeting
When: March 7-9, 2010
Where: Reynolds Journalism Institute
Members of the Digital Publishing Alliance will address the future of e-readers and
tablets and the opportunities they afford for journalism.

Center for the Digital Globe: Cutting Edge Ideas for the Future of Media
When: March 15 -16 2010
Where: Reynolds Journalism Institute, Columbia, MO
The Reynolds Journalism Institute and the Center for the Digital Globe to explore cutting edge ideas for the future of media.  Will feature little-known start-ups and well-known futurists.  Discussion on day one; day two will focus on smaller seeded discussions that will generate new business models/directions.

About the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute:

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (rjionline.org) engages media professionals, scholars and citizens in programs aimed at improving the practice and understanding of journalism. Part of the Missouri School of Journalism, RJI collaborates with news and technology companies, professional associations, foundations and individuals to generate and test innovative models and technologies for journalism and advertising. Six Donald W. Reynolds Fellows spend an academic year at RJI, working with Missouri faculty and students and RJI staff to develop new ways to gather, process and deliver news, information and advertising.  RJI was launched in 2004 with an initial grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

About The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation:

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named.  Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, it has committed more than $100 million to its National Journalism Initiative in the United States.

For more information, contact:
Kelly Peery, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, peeryk@rjionline.org; (573) 882-9650