Tom Johnson at the Institute for Analytic Journalism makes an interesting proposal in “All (digital) power to the people“: #

bq. Of course, a newspaper could have done the same thing, but so far as we know, none has. So the least the industry could do is supply the software apps, and maybe some instruction, to let citizens build their local databases. #

The database he’s talking about is the Barista Teardown Map of Montclair, N.J. The map was developed with the help of Faneuil Media and featured in the Sunday New York Times (A town’s architectural shift, chronicled online – reg req’d). #

Of course, the secret is that the news industry doesn’t have to supply the software apps, as they’re already available (see mapbuilder, for instance), and more are becoming available all the time. Database apps? Look at ZohoCreator, for instance, which we use to run the (admittedly not pretty) RCM Student Multimedia Examples page. #

Still, the point is well taken. Finding members of your community who have an interest in a topic to help you populate a database and map is a great way to get a map moving. #

Why not invite some of those folks to mash up some maps for your college media organization. Hold a contest (a map of scary places in your college town, for instance?) and give some prizes to the winner. #

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