European Journalism Center - Injo Conference Press Release

Press release by EJC
Innovation Journalism: Detecting Weak Signals
Maastricht - 20 July 2007

The European Journalism Centre will from 25-27 July at Avenue Ceramique 50 host a group of media experts from Europe and the United States at its seminar, “Innovation Journalism: Detecting Weak Signals.”

“Innovation Journalism” is a major new concept shaping the future of the media landscape. It stresses the importance of technological innovations and addresses the necessity of better media coverage of these developments. Innovation and innovation reporting are seen by many as significant catalysts for social transformations. Innovation journalism can be a tool by which innovations will become more readily disseminated across society.

The conference will assess the impact of the early signals from the realm of innovation journalism and will look at the impact different actors in the innovation space can have on developments. It will also discuss the new ways in which information is now being generated and distributed by citizens and journalists alike.

The EJC has partnered with the Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University, Stanford University and Deutsche Welle to bring about 15 industry experts to Maastricht for this three-day conference. Stanford’s David Nordfors, a pioneer of the concept of innovation journalism, will open the conference when he delivers the keynote speech at 3 p.m. Thursday.

The seminar will address in particular innovation developments within the European Union, seeking to identify what can be learned from both winners and losers in the innovation space. Discussions will also be held on integrating innovation into working newsrooms.

Speakers will include: Claude Erbsen of “Innovation Media Consulting”; Wilfried Runde, head of innovation projects at Deutsche Welle; John Burke of the World Editors Forum; Roland Strauss of the European Innovation Dialogue with Strauss & Partners; Rufus Pollock of Cambridge University; Marian Semm, a senior consultant for media and entertainment publishing at IBM; Manfred Moormann, the head of broadband services for Telekom Austria as well as speakers from Ernst&Young and KPMG.

To download the complete programme, click here.