The Next L.A. / Reinventing Our Future : Community : IDEA FILE: News Monitor

How it works

An independent, regional journalism review-press monitor is created to assess and critique the news media’s role in the health of the region’s civic culture. A group of residents will produce a monthly or quarterly critique of the print, broadcast and alternative media’s coverage of civic and community affairs in Southern California.

Benefits

The news media play, or ought to play, an integral role in every aspect of regional problem-solving. How the media cover community affairs, the workings of state, local and regional government, as well as community, civic and public interest groups and nonprofit organizations is key to the success or failure of efforts to improve life in Southern California. The publication and the organization will critique such coverage, stimulate debate on the role of the news media, and thus encourage public media literacy.

Supporters

An array of community and business leaders, activists, gadflies, and journalists interested in seeing greater responsibility by the organizations that hold the rest of society accountable.

Opposition

The uninterested. If Southern Californians wanted serious coverage of state government, television stations would have Sacramento bureaus. And how many journalists care what outsiders, even informed outsiders, say about their work? Opposition can also be expected from news media outlets and vested interests whose sacred cows get gored. And ideological biases and hidden agendas of the board’s members could undermine respect for the undertaking.

The Costs

Publication would have nominal subscription and cover price. Funding would be sought from various sources, and there could be links to colleges and universities.

REALITY CHECK

50%. No-strings funding may prove difficult to find. People are more interested in what’s on “Nick at Night.” Maybe.