+

Wikifying the CBCAlfred 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

+

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 design

+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