A diverse group of more than 200 journalists, entrepreneurs, techies, nonprofit organizers, artists, activists and others gathered last week at UW with the grand mission of re-imagining the news ecology of the Pacific Northwest. This Journalism That Matters “unconference” focused on journalism’s relationship with the community.

I was delighted and relieved that this was not a pity party about the good old days of journalism. The participants were open to change and were there to figure out the future, not to pine for the past. Sure, when you get dozens of laid-off people in a room, there are going to be some depressing chats about filing for unemployment, but overall, the mood was amazingly optimistic and upbeat. “The snark level is very low,” remarked one woman.

For me, the biggest benefit was meeting people who are involved in a variety of interesting startups and experiments. I learned about Xconomy, a news site that covers tech industries in three cities, and TheNewHive.com, an innovative social networking site set to launch by the summer. I learned about InvestigateWest’s business model and the need for a better online system to share content among community radio stations.

It wasn’t possible to be a part of all of the sessions and chats going on, but based on my observations, several themes emerged:

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In 2007, Serra Media CEO Mark Briggs published Journalism 2.0, a popular “digital literacy guide” for journalists (made available as a free downloadable e-book with funding from the Knight foundation).  In a just-published updated version of the book, “Journalism Next: A Practical Guide to Digital Reporting and Publishing,” Briggs expands his audience beyond professional journalist to those getting started in journalism or digital publishing: “If you’re a student or just starting out, realize that it’s your turn. Your opportunity may come from a traditional news company, start-up news blog or a new enterprise you launch yourself.” In contrast to some bloggers and social media experts who boldly predict the death of journalism, Briggs argues that now is “a good time to go into journalism.”

In the excerpt below, Briggs lays out his case:

1. Journalism has a bright future

Experimental news operations are popping up all over the Web as this decade draws to a close. Some have become sustainable businesses in a very short time. Others are still searching for viability while finding new ways to cover issues and communities.

In short, the demand for journalism from its audience hasn’t diminished. But the models are starting to look very different. Read more…

From such viral hits as I Can Has Cheezburger to helpful tools like Walk Score, hundreds of startup companies have their roots in Seattle’s thriving entrepreneurial community. This Q&A is the first in a series of interviews with Seattle-area startups.

Mark Briggs, CEO of Serra Media

When was Serra Media founded?

Officially in 2007, but the company didn’t start doing business until January 2009.

How and why did Serra Media get started?

It grew out of a side project while I was working at The (Tacoma) News Tribune. A friend of mine, who had started a couple tech companies in Seattle, and I came up with an interesting idea and decided to build a prototype. After showing it to several prospective companies and receiving positive feedback, we decided to launch the company to market the idea.

What does Serra Media do?

We power Web sites and provide mobile solutions to build community for hyperlocal news, information and shopping and help companies capture local advertising dollars shifting from traditional print publications.

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MCDM Director Hanson Hosein and Ross Reynolds, an MCDMer and host of KUOW’s The Conversation, will discuss the future of communication and news during a Fireside Chat at the Sorrento Hotel on Monday, Aug. 17.

You can watch the video here.
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