Comments on: The infrastructure project http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:28:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: softexpose.com » Blog Archive » Visualized news http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-358547 softexpose.com » Blog Archive » Visualized news Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:02:27 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-358547 [...] Miller of the Sunlight Foundation wonders about extending the idea in the infrastructure project into her territory: tracking Congress. I wonder what the analogue to what might be in our world of [...] [...] Miller of the Sunlight Foundation wonders about extending the idea in the infrastructure project into her territory: tracking Congress. I wonder what the analogue to what might be in our world of [...]

]]> By: Have you ever wondered… http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-357242 Have you ever wondered… Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:26:01 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-357242 [...] in New York and New Jersey to collaborate with their readers and use new technologies to catalog “the failures of the infrastructure around them.” “Put up a Google map (with Platial on top) and town and neighborhood wikis and ask them to [...] [...] in New York and New Jersey to collaborate with their readers and use new technologies to catalog “the failures of the infrastructure around them.” “Put up a Google map (with Platial on top) and town and neighborhood wikis and ask them to [...]

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Visualized news http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-357136 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Visualized news Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:37:40 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-357136 [...] Miller of the Sunlight Foundation wonders about extending the idea in the infrastructure project into her territory: tracking Congress. I wonder what the analogue to what might be in our world of [...] [...] Miller of the Sunlight Foundation wonders about extending the idea in the infrastructure project into her territory: tracking Congress. I wonder what the analogue to what might be in our world of [...]

]]> By: links for 2007-08-14 at Framtider.net http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-357034 links for 2007-08-14 at Framtider.net Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:19:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-357034 [...] BuzzMachine: The infrastructure project “Put up a Google map /…/ and town and neighborhood wikis and ask them to pinpoint every failure of infrastructure /…/ they see /…/ Urge them to blog their stories of frustration and bureaucracy. /…/ Then do what you do best: add journalism.” (tags: deltagande_journalistik lokal_journalistik journalistik buzzmachine jeff_jarvis googlemaps) [...] [...] BuzzMachine: The infrastructure project “Put up a Google map /…/ and town and neighborhood wikis and ask them to pinpoint every failure of infrastructure /…/ they see /…/ Urge them to blog their stories of frustration and bureaucracy. /…/ Then do what you do best: add journalism.” (tags: deltagande_journalistik lokal_journalistik journalistik buzzmachine jeff_jarvis googlemaps) [...]

]]> By: Martin Stabe » More essential reading: data and interactivity in online journalism http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356826 Martin Stabe » More essential reading: data and interactivity in online journalism Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:32:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356826 [...] Jarvis has a suggestion for a networked journalism project about local infrastructure. Jarvis suggests how things like the Bakersfield Californian’s [...] [...] Jarvis has a suggestion for a networked journalism project about local infrastructure. Jarvis suggests how things like the Bakersfield Californian’s [...]

]]> By: Transnets » Blog Archive » Réseaux: usages pratiques http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356815 Transnets » Blog Archive » Réseaux: usages pratiques Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:54:07 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356815 [...] – Jeff Jarvis, professeur de journalisme plein d’idées a utilisé son blog pour lancer un appel aux médias peu de jours après la catastrophe de Minneapolis. Mettez une carte Google sur votre site, leur [...] [...] – Jeff Jarvis, professeur de journalisme plein d’idées a utilisé son blog pour lancer un appel aux médias peu de jours après la catastrophe de Minneapolis. Mettez une carte Google sur votre site, leur [...]

]]> By: links for 2007-08-12 | SOJo: Student of Online Journalism http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356745 links for 2007-08-12 | SOJo: Student of Online Journalism Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:26:09 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356745 [...] The infrastructure project Want to enlist your audiences in a networked reporting project that will have a huge impact on government and make a difference in all their lives — a project you couldn’t do without them? (tags: jeffjarvis google maps news citizenj) [...] [...] The infrastructure project Want to enlist your audiences in a networked reporting project that will have a huge impact on government and make a difference in all their lives — a project you couldn’t do without them? (tags: jeffjarvis google maps news citizenj) [...]

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis Innovates « webnewser http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356678 Jeff Jarvis Innovates « webnewser Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:44:53 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356678 [...] week, McClatchy’s Howard Weaver linked to my suggestion for the infrastructure project, mobilizing the public to gather information about crumbling public assets and sharing them on a [...] [...] week, McClatchy’s Howard Weaver linked to my suggestion for the infrastructure project, mobilizing the public to gather information about crumbling public assets and sharing them on a [...]

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Instant innovation. Viola. http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356661 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Instant innovation. Viola. Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:48:44 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356661 [...] week, McClatchy’s Howard Weaver linked to my suggestion for the infrastructure project, mobilizing the public to gather information about crumbling public assets and sharing them on a [...] [...] week, McClatchy’s Howard Weaver linked to my suggestion for the infrastructure project, mobilizing the public to gather information about crumbling public assets and sharing them on a [...]

]]> By: Paul Brannan http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356519 Paul Brannan Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:28:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356519 There's a Beta version of this idea operating in the UK. Have a look at http://www.fixmystreet.com/ Put in BBC TV's postcode - W12 7RJ - and you'll get an idea of some of the problems that have been flagged. For news organisations most of the things reported wouldn't merit a NIB but they're hugely important for local communities and for engendering civic pride. There’s a Beta version of this idea operating in the UK. Have a look at http://www.fixmystreet.com/

Put in BBC TV’s postcode – W12 7RJ – and you’ll get an idea of some of the problems that have been flagged.

For news organisations most of the things reported wouldn’t merit a NIB but they’re hugely important for local communities and for engendering civic pride.

]]> By: rich (richmanwisco) http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356509 rich (richmanwisco) Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:28:23 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356509 Harry- Please don't parse my comment, as I did not absolve government leaders of responsibility. If the population cares enough (and they do care as they defeated at least two previous stadium funding attempts), then they will remove those leaders from office. All they have to is show up on election day. No need for a new kind of activism, all that is needed is for people to participate in the form of activism on which this country was founded. Harry-
Please don’t parse my comment, as I did not absolve government leaders of responsibility. If the population cares enough (and they do care as they defeated at least two previous stadium funding attempts), then they will remove those leaders from office. All they have to is show up on election day. No need for a new kind of activism, all that is needed is for people to participate in the form of activism on which this country was founded.

]]> By: Tansley - addendum http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356468 Tansley - addendum Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:12:00 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356468 Harry...see my reponse two blogposts back at Jeff's first post on infrastructure, re: governmental dysfunctionality. Jeff, I really like this idea. A LOT. Even if 90% or more of the public doesn't respond, the remainder WILL, to varying degrees, and this has the potential of turning the entire populace into a superb watchdog...which is what it is supposed to do in the first place, in a democracy. Just be careful about going from reporter/commentator to advocate...people get snippy with advocates when things don't go according to plan... And thanks for dealing with this...you might want to consider investing in a gameboy for those future traffic jams, until this problem gets worked out... Harry…see my reponse two blogposts back at Jeff’s first post on infrastructure, re: governmental dysfunctionality.

Jeff, I really like this idea. A LOT. Even if 90% or more of the public doesn’t respond, the remainder WILL, to varying degrees, and this has the potential of turning the entire populace into a superb watchdog…which is what it is supposed to do in the first place, in a democracy.

Just be careful about going from reporter/commentator to advocate…people get snippy with advocates when things don’t go according to plan…

And thanks for dealing with this…you might want to consider investing in a gameboy for those future traffic jams, until this problem gets worked out…

]]> By: Harry http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356451 Harry Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:12:30 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356451 "See, your claim that our government has failed us is only half true. There is more than plenty of blame to share with the taxpaying public that is unwilling to fund infrastructure improvement." Rich, the problem isn't that the public is unwilling to pay enough taxes to pay for infrastructure maintenance; it's the screwed-up priorities of the governing class. For example, last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis forced a cancellation of a scheduled groundbreaking for a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. The cost of the new stadium? $1.1 billion. That's right; Minnesota's governmental "leaders" managed to find $1.1 billion for a new baseball stadium but couldn't find the money for bridge maintenance. What does that tell you about their judgment and priorities? More tax revenues will just give those fools more opportunities to piss it away on nonsense. “See, your claim that our government has failed us is only half true. There is more than plenty of blame to share with the taxpaying public that is unwilling to fund infrastructure improvement.”

Rich, the problem isn’t that the public is unwilling to pay enough taxes to pay for infrastructure maintenance; it’s the screwed-up priorities of the governing class.

For example, last week’s bridge collapse in Minneapolis forced a cancellation of a scheduled groundbreaking for a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. The cost of the new stadium? $1.1 billion.

That’s right; Minnesota’s governmental “leaders” managed to find $1.1 billion for a new baseball stadium but couldn’t find the money for bridge maintenance.

What does that tell you about their judgment and priorities? More tax revenues will just give those fools more opportunities to piss it away on nonsense.

]]> By: Have you ever wondered... http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356443 Have you ever wondered... Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:03:53 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356443 [...] York and New Jersey to collaborate with their readers and use new technologies to catalog “the failures of the infrastructure around them.” “Put up a Google map (with Platial on top) and town and neighborhood wikis and ask [...] [...] York and New Jersey to collaborate with their readers and use new technologies to catalog “the failures of the infrastructure around them.” “Put up a Google map (with Platial on top) and town and neighborhood wikis and ask [...]

]]> By: Rich Drees http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356442 Rich Drees Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:00:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356442 AJ- I had your reservations at first as well as I read Jeff's post. However, as oppossed to tips disappearing into a news org's email account or voice mail, this online citizen reportage would be available for all to see and utlize. AJ- I had your reservations at first as well as I read Jeff’s post. However, as oppossed to tips disappearing into a news org’s email account or voice mail, this online citizen reportage would be available for all to see and utlize.

]]> By: Make Them Accountable / Media http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356439 Make Them Accountable / Media Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:53:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356439 [...] The infrastructure project Calling all New York and New Jersey news organizations: Want to enlist your audiences in a networked reporting project that will have a huge impact on government and make a difference in all their lives — a project you couldn’t do without them? Get your audience to report on the failures of the infrastructure around them. [...] [...] The infrastructure project Calling all New York and New Jersey news organizations: Want to enlist your audiences in a networked reporting project that will have a huge impact on government and make a difference in all their lives — a project you couldn’t do without them? Get your audience to report on the failures of the infrastructure around them. [...]

]]> By: Steve Boriss http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356435 Steve Boriss Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:07:40 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356435 Jeff, Per your posts below, when your army audience is done with that, they should stay in their posts and help us understand using multimedia why government sucks so badly at this, how their tax dollars actually get spent, and how it is tied to how politicians hold onto their power. Then we would have exactly the Press that the Founding Fathers had in mind in the first place. (Steve Boriss, <a href="http://www.thefutureofnews.com" rel="nofollow">The Future of News</a>) Jeff, Per your posts below, when your army audience is done with that, they should stay in their posts and help us understand using multimedia why government sucks so badly at this, how their tax dollars actually get spent, and how it is tied to how politicians hold onto their power. Then we would have exactly the Press that the Founding Fathers had in mind in the first place. (Steve Boriss, The Future of News)

]]> By: rich (richmanwisco) http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356434 rich (richmanwisco) Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:00:08 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356434 Fine idea, but be careful what you wish for. I suggest you also ask your readers, that along with reporting infrastructure problems, that they propose how much they are willing to have their taxes raised to support the costs of their suggested improvements/repair. See, your claim that our government has failed us is only half true. There is more than plenty of blame to share with the taxpaying public that is unwilling to fund infrastructure improvement. Fine idea, but be careful what you wish for.

I suggest you also ask your readers, that along with reporting infrastructure problems, that they propose how much they are willing to have their taxes raised to support the costs of their suggested improvements/repair.

See, your claim that our government has failed us is only half true. There is more than plenty of blame to share with the taxpaying public that is unwilling to fund infrastructure improvement.

]]> By: NLP http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356429 NLP Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:58:02 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356429 This is a great idea. I think this principle could be applied to all areas of government. Ask the citizens where stuff doesn't work: Which department looses your applications all the time? Who needs you to give them eight photos to get one application processed? Who takes forever to respond to your calls? Who has the longest waiting times? etc This would be a very powerful way to measure the effectiveness of many government departments. (This is really scary by the way) Maybe we could call that model "Citizen Networks" or something along these lines... This is a great idea.

I think this principle could be applied to all areas of government. Ask the citizens where stuff doesn’t work: Which department looses your applications all the time? Who needs you to give them eight photos to get one application processed? Who takes forever to respond to your calls? Who has the longest waiting times? etc

This would be a very powerful way to measure the effectiveness of many government departments. (This is really scary by the way)

Maybe we could call that model “Citizen Networks” or something along these lines…

]]> By: Edward Vielmetti http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356417 Edward Vielmetti Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:33:15 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356417 When I walk around my neighborhood and notice something amiss - e.g. when the last power outage hit my office and I started walking towards town to find a cafe with wifi and power etc - I used twitter to note what was going on, e.g. http://twitter.com/edwardvielmetti/statuses/171886102 this was some combination note to self, notes for a future blog post, communications with coworkers and friends, and coordination effort to make sure I ended up in the same place as someone else when I was done. When I walk around my neighborhood and notice something amiss – e.g. when the last power outage hit my office and I started walking towards town to find a cafe with wifi and power etc – I used twitter to note what was going on, e.g.

http://twitter.com/edwardvielmetti/statuses/171886102

this was some combination note to self, notes for a future blog post, communications with coworkers and friends, and coordination effort to make sure I ended up in the same place as someone else when I was done.

]]> By: A.J. http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356411 A.J. Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:49:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/08/08/the-infrastructure-project/#comment-356411 A good idea. My only doubt is that news organizations have been pushing the public to give them news tips since time immemorial (i.e.: news tip hotlines and email addresses). I do see, of course, that the collaborative capabilities of Web 2.0 -- including blogs, interactive maps and social networks -- will let citizens participate in the newsgathering process more than ever, and on a different level. But at the end of the day, the result may be very similar to asking people to email newstips@times.com, or something to that extent. In other words, this idea is definitely worth trying, but I wouldn't expect any sweeping journalistic reforms to ensue. A good idea. My only doubt is that news organizations have been pushing the public to give them news tips since time immemorial (i.e.: news tip hotlines and email addresses). I do see, of course, that the collaborative capabilities of Web 2.0 — including blogs, interactive maps and social networks — will let citizens participate in the newsgathering process more than ever, and on a different level. But at the end of the day, the result may be very similar to asking people to email newstips@times.com, or something to that extent. In other words, this idea is definitely worth trying, but I wouldn’t expect any sweeping journalistic reforms to ensue.

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