Anew NZ News Media Service

Project Brief

6 May2005

An Invitation to Participate in a Highly Valued Project.

 

Background

Creating a public dialogue on the future of the country requires a prerequisite of having "quality information" upon which to base the dialogue – which includes a balanced view of current events.  This is largely not available through main stream media – which is based on views of the corporate owners and/or the dominant paradigm of the day.  Alternative media sources are needed to fill the significant gaps in the balanced and factual reporting of what is happening today.

One of the principles of Anew NZ is to facilitate the dialogue of a wide range of worldviews.  Anew NZ is not an advocate of any one view, yet can "represent" a spectrum of views in an equitable manner.  Anew NZ advocates an "integrative" leadership that works with the whole.

Therefore it seeks to create a web-based news media service - that represents the "whole" – the social, economic, environmental and cultural issues of the day - a balanced view not currently available.  We want to paint the picture that the problems of the day are "systemic" by nature (no demons) and that we are all part of the system that is dysfunctional.  We have no ax to grind or any undisclosed agenda.  Our transparent agenda is to be bring health to the system. We want to paint the picture of the remarkable time in which we live and the richness, complexity and beauty of it all – the opportunities and urgency that exist.  This is our niche.

What is the "Anew NZ News Media Service"

Most of us find ourselves in "information overload" – wishing for a simple way of accessing volumes of valuable information.  Anew NZ wants to meet that need by offering a news summary that focuses on the future of the country from both national and international sources. Realizing that much more alternative information is available, it will also provide the links to these sources for those having time to search.

The "Anew NZ News Media Service" is the source of "quality information" that is needed to create a shared vision for New Zealand.  Initially it will be updated every week and then expanded as people and resources are available.  

News / Website Structure

The news is divided into two segments – global and national news.  In each case the first presentation on the site is composed of the current entries.  This leads to a run-on page that gives all the cumulative news items for the month.  Each month is archived for on-going viewing.  Each of the two run-on pages (for global and national news) has a topic summary and a link to the full stories.  It will contain the following sections:

• National current events (that influence the future of NZ, e.g.  energy initiatives )
• International current events (that potentially influence the future of NZ, e.g. Global Peak Oil)
• Positive news (not necessarily current events, but news that is relevant to developing the future of NZ, e.g. "Slow Town project in Matakana, Reinhart Kanuka-Fuchs's work, etc.)
• Positive alternative projects that offer inspiration for a NZ positive future (e.g. Curitiba, Buthan Indicator of Happiness,

We want to compile these over time – so as to form a "library" of archived material – easily accessible – to help form new views for visioning New Zealand.

Forming the Project

Anew NZ is soliciting volunteers interested in participating in this project.  The roles sought are:

• Project Manager(s) – probably more than one person who are prepared to manage the project. 
• News Administrators – one (non-technical) person who will post information on the website + a number of writers and proof readers who develop the short abstracts for the website presentation.  
• News Researchers – a team of people who will search for both national and global news to post on the site.

Tasks required for "set up" and "implementation" phases of the project (responsibility of the project manager(s) include:

1. Develop a set of principles which determine how the news items are selected.
2. Develop a set of principles which determine what sources of information are used.
3. Determine the "base line" set of information sources.

Please contact Dave Breuer, on breuer.d@ihug.co.nz or Tel  (09) 413-9146 to discuss your interest in participation.