Excerpts of the study's presentation:

"Historically, journalists have been charged with informing democracy. But their future will depend not only on how well they inform but how well they encourage and enable conversations with citizens. That is the challenge.
This report details the important considerations when exploring a collaborative effort between audience and traditional media organizations.

1. Introduction to participatory journalism
Armed with easy-to-use Web publishing tools, always-on connections and increasingly powerful mobile devices, the online audience has the means to become an active participant in the creation and dissemination of news and information.

2. Cultural context: Behind the explosion of participatory media
The Internet has caused significant changes to journalism. It remains to be see exactly how those changes will manifest themselves and how much of a change we will see. The creation of the Internet as we know it helped create media-centric lives. It has changed the dynamic of news and turned the customer into a contributor.

3. How participatory journalism is taking form
Participatory journalism uses a "publish, then filter" model instead of the traditional "filter, then publish" model. We examine the self correcting process, strengths and weaknesses of each of the major participatory journalism systems or formats. These include: discussion groups, user generated content, weblogs (blogs), collaborative publishing, peer-to-peer systems and XML syndication. The various functions the audience can serve are examined and the type of participatory journalism formats these functions thrive in are also provided.

4. The rules of participation
What motivates the audience to take part in participatory journalism? Social needs and how participatory journalism meets those needs are detailed. Like any social system, participatory media have developed their own rules. These rules and how they work are discussed.

5. Implications for media and journalism
Key trends shaping the future of media and journalism and impact on the Internet include: the democratization of media due to low barriers to entry; challenges to media's hegemony; a redefinition of credibility - who has it and what it takes to create it; the rise of new experts and watchdogs; changes to the economic models for media companies; and the new expectations and demands of the consumer in the journalistic process.

6. Potential benefits of We Media
Potential benefits to media companies and businesses that adopt participatory journalism in a meaningful way may include: increased trust, shared responsibility in informing democracy, creation of memorable experiences, attracting younger audiences and creating a stronger relationship with the community at large.

7. How media might respond
Ways for media companies to integrate participatory journalism into existing operations include: understand and build on the concept that connections equal value; make newsrooms responsive to change; give staff some level of autonomy; embrace the audience as a valued partner; embrace the customer as an innovator; and share the story, don't own it.

8. Appendix: Resources for We Media
A list of resources, from Web sites to books to tools.

Written by Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis, edited by J.D. Lasica, Senior Editor, Online Journalism Review. Introduction by Dale Peskin, Co-Director, The Media Center and foreword by Dan Gillmor, The San Jose Mercury News.

Three links for you, "editors weblog" readers:
- the whole article on the We Media - The Media Center website.
- the "We Media" report from The Media Center at The American Press Institute is now available in HTML format.
- Media Center director Andrew Nachison discusses the report in this Q&A with PJNet.org.

Note: Hypergene is a media consulting and design firm.