[WikiEN-l] J.Wales-Keynoter for Batten Awards for Innovations??

Mon Jul 18 18:52:26 UTC 2005

Hi Folks -

This is a copy of an email I sent Jimmy earlier today. I love it if you
could give me  a read as to whether his schedule would even permit his
accepting this invitation:

Hi Jimmy -

    I enjoyed sitting next to you at the Harvard blogging conference. I'm
circling back to see if I could woo you to be the keynote speaker at this
year's Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism Symposium
(http://www.j-lab.org/batten.html)?

    My Advisory Board just finished meeting and selecting this year's award
winners and you were the favorite recommendation for a  keynoter.

    The date is Monday, Sept. 12.  The event is at the National Press Club
in Washington, DC.  The keynote address is given at a luncheon of about
80-100 people -- many of whom will be D.C. journalists, not always known for
innovation. And probably only distantly aware of wikis.

    With  Wiki launching a news site, the LA Times experimenting on its
editorial page, the robust give-and-take on the Harvard listserv, and your
own experience of having journalism "done" to  you, you'd have a lot of
insights to offer. The winners of this years award's will be announced at
the symposium as well.

    J-Lab could cover your travel and lodging costs -- with a grant from the
Knight Foundation that supports the awards.

    I've admired your work for a long time and I'd love to have you if it
would fit into your schedule.

Best,
Jan 

-- 
Jan Schaffer
Executive Director
J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
7100 Baltimore Ave., Suite 101
College Park, MD 20740
Ph: 301-985-4020
Fx: 301-985-4021
jans at j-lab.org
Www.J-Lab.org
Www.J-NewVoices.org