As we noted yesterday, we’re proud and excited to be releasing a series of visualizations that bring to life our theory of the “Four Layers of Networks” that journalists and media organizations must strategically integrate into their planning for maximum impact.

Those four layers are:

• Networked users
• Self-organized networks
• Institutional Networks
• Networks of Institutions

Today, we tackle “Networked Users.”
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Welcome to our new online home! Why did we change the site’s name from “Build the Echo” to “Beyond the Echo”? When we started our research in 2005, it was all the rage to talk about how progressive media needed “infrastructure”–an echo chamber to mirror and combat the right’s noise machine. Over the past four years of our research, writing and organizing, we’ve come to believe that progressive media’s impact and success depends on moving “beyond the echo chamber” to a collaborative, networked model of reporting and community building.

Speaking of our reporting and research, we are excited to announce that February 9, 2010 is the publication date for our first book book, Beyond The Echo Chamber: Reshaping Politics Through Networked Progressive Media. (You can start ordering it now!) In January we will release a series of new visualizations that illustrate our theory (outlined in the book) of the “four network layers” that media outlets must strategically integrate into their planning to shape and distribute their content for maximum impact. Here’s a hint! These include:

• Networked Users
• Self-Organized Networks
• Institutional Networks
• Networks of Institutions

Aren’t you intrigued already?

In the meantime this site will build upon the book’s theories of strategic impact, feature the latest news and trends related to the future of journalism and track the latest high-impact media projects. Watch this space for news about our book tour, tidbits from the book and more. We invite you to comment, offer suggestions about related stories and projects for us to cover, and join us as we continue to follow the intersection of media, politics and change.

What should we title our book?

Ok-we’re throwing around some book title ideas. We need help. Below are some first-crack ideas (don’t judge!) and a short (and evolving) description of the book. We need your feedback! Are these moving in a good direction? Do you have other suggestions?

1) Teem: Harnessing the power of progressive media to beat the right-wing noise machine and transform American politics

2) Teem: How a networked progressive media can beat the right-wing noise machine and transform politics

3) Live and in Concert: Harnessing the power of progressive media to beat the right-wing noise machine and transform American politics

4 Live and In Concert: How a networked progressive media can beat the right-wing noise machine and transform politics

Description

Journalism is in chaos, and while critiques are plentiful, few know how to fix it. Several recent books have argued that a strong and independent media is central to a vibrant democracy, but few have offered specifics on how media makes social and political change. In (BOOK TITLE HERE), media experts and practioners Jessica Clark and Tracy Van Slyke will tackle this important question by exploring the transformation of the progressive media sector from 2004-2008.

The book showcases high-impact projects and suggesting ways in which media-makers can and should adjust to changes in journalism, technology and politics. Along the way, (BOOK TITLE HERE) illuminates how a diverse and active political coalition has coalesced around a revitalized progressive movement.

Like the larger media system, the progressive media sector has experienced a sea change over the last decade. Traditional journalism outlets such The Nation and Mother Jones to meet new market challenges and increase their sphere of influence. At the same time, a myriad of high-profile and often multi-platform progressive projects—ranging from blogs like Firedoglake and The Huffington Post, to films like short videos from Brave New Films to large-scale progressive radio outlets like Air America—are attracting large and nontraditional audiences. But even these highly visible projects struggle to gain attention and respect in a media sphere both dominated by corporate and entertainment interests and roiled by an influx of user-driven content. How can progressive media projects make an impact in a rapidly evolving environment that collapses personal expression, entertainment, social and political movement building, journalism and public relations?

(BOOK TITLE HERE) will tackle that question by developing a theory of media and social change, building upon the series of maps and articles that Clark and Van Slyke created in 2005 and 2006 for In These Times magazine. Drawing from ongoing interviews and case studies with media professionals, they will identify current strategies that inform high-impact progressive media in order to develop innovative, cross-platform “impact” benchmarks tailored to the progressive media sphere—a valuable and unprecedented tool for media-makers, funders, and media educators.

In today’s Salon, Rick Perlstein (fellow Chicagoan and author of Nixonland) has a fascinating interview with Thomas Frank–author of the hit (and great example of high impact) What’s the Matter With Kansas? and the new, The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule. The interview hones in on specific stories from Frank’s new book on the rise of conservative power over the last 100 years, including examples of how the right economically benefits from both fighting the left AND (ironically) subsidies and some interesting tidbits about Jack Abramoff’s ties to South Africa apartheid.

At the end of the interview, Frank has his own take on the ways of the MSM as they fight the “liberal bias” label falsely foisted upon them by the right. Frank notes some MSM journalists run for the caves to hide from the label by speaking in equal measures about the two parties. To me, it’s not about equal time with either party (although that clearly doesn’t happen), it’s about journalists rooting out the systematic development, power and corruption by or of either party. This is also what Frank alludes to in the quote below.

What they prefer instead is to talk about “both parties,” and always to assume that everything in American politics is done simultaneously and in precisely equal measure by both sides. Believing this closes off all kinds of inquiry to you, blinds you to all sorts of not-so-subtle nuances and imbalances in the system.

There’s also the problem that the things I focus on — for example, that conservatism tends to be an organic product of business interests — are things that disturb them. Journalists might be social liberals, but there are damned few of them who are ready to scrutinize the power of business or the benevolence of markets. Or the motives of entrepreneurs, even when they call themselves “political entrepreneurs.”

The next two months are just swarming with media conferences, and we’re hoping to catch up with readers of this blog at at least one of them. Here’s a quick rundown of which of us will be where:

• International Communication Association Conference, Montreal, May 22-26: Jessica will be heading up a preconference and a Sunday panel on redefining “public media”
• National Conference for Media Reform, June 5-8, Minneapolis: Jessica and Tracy will be presenting together at the academic preconference on the topic “Independent Media: New Impact Measurements.” Then, on Friday, Tracy will be moderating a panel called “How Independent Media Creates Change,” and Jessica will be moderating a panel called “New Directions in Public Media.” (I also heard a rumor about a party—details?)
• Beyond Broadcast: Mapping Public Media, DC, June 17: Jessica’s planning this one, and Tracy will be there, and so should you! It’s a great chance to make the case for how public media should evolve to better serve citizens in the Web 2.0 era. Register today.
• Personal Democracy Forum, New York, June 23-24: Join Tracy at this star-studded extravaganza of Web 2.0 political strategists

Whew!