+
Wikifying the CBC
Alfred Hermida, Assistant professorAmanda Ash, Graduate studentUBC Graduate School of Journalism
+About the project
Research and develop a user-generated, participatory online resource on Canadian music, produced by Canadians, using collaborative wiki software
Partnership between media organization, journalism school and state funding agency
Explore how a public service broadcaster can incorporate models of collective intelligence within established patriarchal models of media
+The Canadian context
CBC as “a corporate Titanic on the verge of capsizing” Raboy, 1996
Strategy “to create a critical mass of content and services to ensure that Canadians can never be relegated to a back corner of the web” Beatty, 1998
Online as a space “dominated by a few multinational companies that have managed to extend control based on their existing dominance” Silverstone, 2007
Online strategy to be “the most important and popular source of Canadian news, information and entertainment content” Galipeau, 2006
+Why CBC Radio 3
Mandate to promote Canadian culture through emerging technologies to reach Canadians
Social and collaborative media features promoted on its existing website
Award-winning service described as the “virtual community for the nation’s independent culture” Whyte, 2004
CBC Radio 3 “among the country’s best kept web-based secrets” Belanger & Andreche,
2009
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The development of the Canadian Music Wiki
+Creating the wiki
Work at CBC in Vancouver with the Radio 3 web team
Investigate wiki software
Envision the design and collaborative features to include at launch
Develop outreach and community plan
+Wiki d
esig
n
+Discussion: Technology
Tap collective intelligence of the audience
Issues of resources/funding
CBC as the facilitator of content, rather than creator of content
+Discussion: Content/community
Balance openness with editorial checks and balances
Critical mass of contributors
Existing base of ‘power users’ of CBC Radio 3
+Discussion: Culture
Open and collaborative approach of CBC Radio 3
Mandate to support and promote Canadian culture
Music as a social experience
+Discussion: Economics
Funding innovation at time of cutbacks
Journalism schools as a catalyst for media innovation
Teaching hospital model of professional education
+Limitations
Wiki not yet launched
Canadian context
Personal bias
+ Conclusion
Innovate at the edges
Minimise editorial risk
Minimise financial cost
Radio as an online collaborative experience
+ Thank you
@hermida – http://reportr.net
@amandaash – http://theindiefiles.com