Rji-pivot-interviews

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

Through experience organizing other result-oriented gatherings, we’ve found that asking participants to conduct a pre-convening conversation with one other colleague is an effective way to jump-start collaboration and project-based thinking. Here’s how it works:

• At the very bottom of this note, you’ll find information about you, and about your “convening partner.” It should include basic contact information, including a phone number and some copy-and-paste links to background information and a photo.
• Please reach out to your discussion partner immediately by email and, by phone during business hours. Don’t wait for the other person to take the lead.
• Arrange a time when you can talk for 15-45 minutes on the phone. Agree that at least one of you will take notes of your conversation, and that you will email a short summary of what you discussed to densmorew@rjionline.org right after the call.
• We’ll post your report to this address: http://tinyurl.com/rji-pivot-talks . . . .
• Please read the other conversations at that address before your arrival at the Hotel Lincoln.

WHAT SHOULD WE DISCUSS?

There is no specific assignment for the contents of your discussion. Certainly you’ll want to learn about each other, as you would in any social introduction. And that’s important, because we want as much as possible for all of us to know the breadth of talent, expertise and diversity convening for “Pivot Point.” RJI’s intention is that we will form the start of a series of projects, and that some of us will continue to work with each other after we gather. So use this call in part to “get to know each other.”

As you think about the conversation you want to have, you my wish to refer to RJI Executive Director Randy Picht’s invitation:
http://newshare.com/rji/invite.pdf

As well as the questions posed in our Convening Purpose two-pager:
http://newshare.com/rji/pivotpoint.pdf

Here are some additional questions you might consider:

• What are you most passionate about, professionally?
• How best can we advance the values, principles and purposes of journalism in support of participatory democracy?
• What are the best-possible outcomes we might strive to achieve at Pivot Point?
• What vital skills, experience, expertise or perspective will achieve those outcomes?