Heights Observer Finalist In 2008 New Voices

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:20 pm

FutureHeights named finalist in 2008 New Voices grant program

The Heights Observer, a citizen-led community new project sponsored by FutureHeights, has been named a finalist in the 2008 New Voices grant program, sponsored by J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism.

New Voices is an incubator for pioneering community news ventures in the United States. It helps fund the start-up of innovative micro-local news projects. It spotlights independent citizens media initiatives. And it provides technical support with online training in creating, developing and sustaining Web sites grounded in journalism ethics. Through 2008, New Voices is helping to fund the start-up of 40 micro-local news projects with $12,000 grants; support them with an educational Web site, and help foster their sustainability through $5,000 second-year matching grants. New Voices is administered by <http://www.j-lab.org/>J-Lab at the University of Maryland and supported by a grant from <http://www.knightfdn.org/>the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

GranteesÂ will be named in April, 2008.

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:28 pm

That is fantastic news!

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:35 pm

David Lay wrote:That is fantastic news!

Shows what happens when people bury petty attitudes and work together. People all over the country are seeing this project as amazing, and ground breaking.

Almost a year ago we attracted the attention of Lauren Rich Fine, the number 1 print media analyst in the world for the past 11 years! Now we have Tim Curtiss, a 20 Wall Street investment banker, Yale grad, and start-up specialist.

We are changing, media, but if you were to listen to some you would think we are destroying the world.

Just yesterday I got an email about how do we reach out to others via the web?! Meanwhile the rest of the world is looking at Lakewood for the answer and buying in.

The Heights Observer deserves it. FutureHeights has it right.

Meanwhile over here!

I am very proud of them.

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David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:37 pm

Jim O'Bryan wrote: Shows what happens when people bury petty attitudes and work together. People all over the country are seeing this project as amazing, and ground breaking.

Very true. Don't be surprised if another Observer pops up in the Midwest...

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:39 pm

David Lay wrote:Very true. Don't be surprised if another Observer pops up in the Midwest...

David

Don't be surprised if it is not #497 or higher.

With our new school and city hall features!

This is some cutting edge stuff.

Would have loved to unroll it here, but we only bid half of the rest. Next time I will charge more and offer less.

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David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:42 pm

Jim O'Bryan wrote: Next time I will charge more and offer less.

LOL!