Amanda Michel’s distributed reporting project
October sees the launch of a new version of inFUZE by someone who knows a thing or two about thinking differently about journalism. Amanda Michel is the Director of Distributed Reporting at ProPublica.
The goals are to tap into local knowledge and expertise, particularly when reporting on the US federal stimulus program, and to build broader public interest in investigative journalism.
Anyone—including practicing and retired journalists, students, policy experts, construction workers, homemakers, accountants—can join the ProPublica Reporting Network.
The first assignment for members will be to “Adopt a Stimulus Project,” where people will dedicate themselves to following a local road or bridge reconstruction project funded by the stimulus and to monitor it through its completion. These reporters will be looking to see what is getting repaired, how highly trafficked the road or bridge is, whether companies that receive funds are following environmental and labor laws, how many people are employed by the project, and so on.
“This is precisely the kind of nitty-gritty investigative work that will reveal some surprising facts, but takes time and patience to do well,” said Michel. “In the process of working with our network members, we’ll take investigative journalism into a new collaborative sphere and help the American people determine where the stimulus program is succeeding and where it’s falling short.”
It’s that kind of visionary thinking that underpins inFUZE and makes Amanda the ideal person to come to Manchester for the launch.
Originally piloted earlier this year, inFUZE has been adapted to broaden its appeal across the publishing sector and sees the introduction of a 3 month paid work placement in a digital newsroom. Nazia Mogra took part in the original pilot project. “The focus on not just theory but the balance with group work, story telling, audience research, pitching ideas has delved deep into the person I am and the thoughts I have making me discover further parts of my brain which were pretty weak at times.”
Since completing inFUZE Nazia has been given a full time job at BBC News.
The media industry is adjusting extremely slowly to the structural changes demanded by the evolving digital economy. The industry will require a workforce with additional new skills to secure its place in the digital economy. It’s a fair assumption that employment and working patterns within the industry will change dramatically as the new digital economy emerges.
Tags: Amanda Michel, cross platform, digital, Journalism, propublica
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