About me

I’m Andria Krewson. This blog was created for Deb Aikat’s “Global Impact of New Communications Technologies” class in the fall of 2007. The class was part of the certificate in communications and technology program at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina.

I wrapped up the program in May 2009, finishing with Aikat’s “Computing Concepts and Issues: Power Tools for the Mind.” I’ve also taken (and loved) Genie Tyburski’s “Database and Web Research” class in the fall of 2008, and I’ve taken (and loved) Serena Fenton’s “Visual Communication and Web Design.”

I’ve worked in newspapers for 27 years, in design, line editing, copyediting and technology design and development. Much of that time has been spent in very local, community niche publications. In April 2009, I left The Charlotte Observer after 24 years, and I’m now freelancing, consulting and continuing to learn, every day.

I’m a graduate of the University of Georgia (back in Herschel Walker days), with a major in journalism and a minor in business.

I occasionally update a small blog for my in-town Charlotte neighborhood, Under Oak.

This blog has evolved toward a focus on new ways to pay for journalism in a changing world. In addition to fulfilling class requirements, this place allows the sharing of ideas about new developments and experiments in journalism. I’ve solicited opinions from some co-workers and neighbors about their experiences with the changing journalism world, and those thoughts won’t all fit into class papers. Some of those ideas will show up here. My semester research proposal is here.

The primary, continuing questions: “How should societies pay for journalism? What is a journalist? What is news?” The questions go beyond academic interests, because I’m a young Baby Boomer who will need a job for the next 20 years. Note the use of the verb “should” instead of “can” in the first question. Thousands of words have been spent on the “can” part; I’m deeply interested in continuing the strong values of traditional journalism in a changing environment, and therefore care about how we should do things.

Particular areas of focus include:

community news, especially sustainable news, online or in print;

social software, primarily for building networks and connections among smart crowds and audiences

how people interact with the technical tools of their jobs, and how those tools can be easier, attractive and useful for all

sustainability of quality journalism, whether it be generated by big media companies or volunteer neighborhood bloggers;

and trying to get some sleep occasionally.

You can find me on Twitter, Delicious, LinkedIn and on Facebook. I share a blog with some co-workers at Innovate This.

(Edited: Dec. 2, 2007)