Primarily a virtual event, the Summit was streamed live in front of a live audience, and viewers from around the world were able to participate via text messaging and Twitter. Ten innovative models of the next generation of arts journalism were presented during the four-hour session. Five of the projects, including San Francisco Classical Voice, were chosen from among 109 submissions throughout the country by a panel of judges in response to an open call earlier this summer. Other top finalists announced were Flavorpill, Flyp Media, Glasstire, and Departures.
As a top-five finalist, San Francisco Classical Voice has been awarded $2,000. Members of the NAJP and alumni of the NEA Arts Journalism Institutes will vote online in the coming weeks to determine first, second, and third prize winners; the results of the voting will be announced in late October. The three top winners will earn additional prize money of $7,500, $5,000, and $2,500 respectively.
“The purpose of this event was really not to declare a ‘best’ project,” said Douglas McLennan, director of the NAJP and Summit codirector. “This is a time of great experimentation, and there really is no consensus on what the next viable models in arts journalism will look like. Rather, we wanted to highlight and examine some of the latest thinking about the future of arts journalism and bring some of the best ideas to wider attention.”
All the top presentations have been archived and can be viewed here.