Studio 20 Director Jay Rosen proposes ExplainThis.org as a way for journalists to answer the public’s questions. From the Poynter Institute:
Rosen has developed an idea that could make journalism better by allowing more people to participate in the process: ExplainThis.
ExplainThis has two parts. One is an open system through which anyone can ask and answer questions and vote on them. The second part involves “journalists standing by.” Journalists would monitor questions, looking for ones that meet three conditions:
- Many people are asking the same thing.
- The question can’t be answered well via search.
- Answering the question would require the work of journalism: investigation and explanation.
Read more here.
File this under “good ideas.”