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Alexander Heffner ’08, co-founder of the online political magazine, Scoop08, talks about journalism in the Internet age
March 14, 2008
ANDOVER—Although Scoop08, the online political magazine written by high school and college students across the country, is only a few months old, it has already succeeded in capturing the attention of journalists and academics alike. Articles about the venture have appeared in such prestigious newspapers as The New York Times and the Washington Post, and CNN has interviewed co-founder Alexander Heffner ’08 three times.
This past Tuesday, March 11, Heffner made another appearance on behalf of Scoop08, this time as the featured luncheon speaker at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. During his talk, Heffner spoke not only about Scoop08’s mission and editorial procedures, but also about larger issues such as how traditional journalism is being affected by the rise of the Web-based “citizen journalism.”
“In my presentation, I tried to raise a range of questions central to online ventures like Scoop08 and to electronic journalism more broadly,” says Heffner. Attendees at the luncheon were particularly intrigued to hear Heffner’s thoughts on the distinctions between citizen journalism and mainstream media, the innovative techniques and technologies used by online journalists, and the virtual newsroom set-up employed by Scoop08 staffers.
Heffner was invited to the luncheon by John Palfrey, a Harvard Law School professor and the director of the Berkman Center, a research center devoted to exploring cyberspace and studying its development, dynamics, norms and standards. Members of the center include faculty, students, fellows, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and virtual architects.
“It was terrific to engage such a learned, intelligent, and Internet-savvy group and to hear their responses to Scoop08,” says Heffner, commenting on the experience of speaking before such a prestigious audience. “I was especially pleased to field so many interesting questions about Scoop08 and the future of online journalism. The rigors of the Q&A session were helpful in fleshing out my own ideas about our Web site's future. It was an important learning experience to participate in such a lively exchange of ideas.”
CONTACT: Stephen Porter
978-749-4675
sporter@andover.edu
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