Susan Mernit has been a friend, collaborator and advisor for many years. I’m pleased to announce she’s taking on a new role at iFOCOS - Entrepreneur-in-Residence. It’s a virtual residency. She’ll still be based in Palo Alto, where until recently she was a Senior Director of Product Development for Yahoo! Susan will contribute to a variety of projects at iFOCOS.

Last month at We Media Miami Susan led and moderated two sessions - one focused on social media and social experiences in business; the other focused on women in media and technology. If you don’t know Susan, you can get to know her through her widely-read blog and connect with her through the We Media Community [here's her profile]; and starting now through her contributions to guiding and growing iFOCOS. Welcome Susan!

And, for those of you reading this who know Susan but don’t know iFOCOS and We Media: Welcome to you too! We hope you’ll dive in, join the community, and find people, ideas and activities here that make a difference in your work and help you make a difference for others.

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Since the presidential campaign began for the 2008 United States election,mainstream media coverage of the campaign never stopped amazing me at all.Matter of fact is,this is my first ever election campaign i have literally seen in the United States.

And though i occasionally watched other U.S. presidential campaigns and elections while still in Africa via CNN,BBC and other international broadcasters, this one is special to me because it happens to involve a black male and the first ever female running for president in the United States.

Though my native Liberia has produced the first ever elected Female head of state in Africa, i am having a very difficult time deciding when and how race plays a part in reporting the election campaign.

Though many Americans(including the very democratic front-runners-Hillary and Obama)say race has nothing to do with the 2008 presidential election,i am subtling leaning toward thinking and believing that race does have a major part to play in the up-coming election as seen during these primaries and caucuses that seem not to end now for the democratic party.

And as a journalist who lived and worked in a third world country where it becomes difficult most of the time to be relatively objective and unbias during election times,many questions are on mind:

When is race not the story? But then how to cover the “white”, “black” or “yellow” hot issues of politics and race?How can a journalist deconstruct the forms of racial and ethnic identifications that most often appear in news stories? How best can a journalist describe the way people look during elcetions that involve race?

Then,is it wrong or right for a journalist to vote during primaries and caucuses and at the same time report the news fairly and accurately?

As we( i am flying in next week too) prepare to descend on Miami next week,i hope i could get a rather clear understanding of the above questions. We Media 2008,here we come.

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Congratulations to Steve Yelvington for being named 2007 Online Innovator of the Year by the Newspaper Association of America.

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Blog editor and social media manager, We Media Miami

Outspoken, up and coming media focused freelance writer/blogger Tish Grier launched her career in new media in 2006. . .

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Managing Director & Co-Founder, iFOCOS

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President, Executive Director & Co-Founder, iFOCOS
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(Updated Jan. 19, 2007)

Thanks if you’ve already registered - or if not, what are you waiting for? Register here.

Here’s a look at who is coming to We Media Miami (subject to change at any time):

• Randy Abramson, Executive Producer, Discovery
• Robertson Adams, Communications Associate — Webmaster, Knight Foundation
• Chris Ahearn, President, Media, Reuters
• Jason Albrecht, Communications Intern, Knight Foundation
• Walyce Almeida, Contributor, NowPublic
• Lewis Alpert, Florida International University, School of Journalism & Mass Communication
• Fabricio Altamirano, CEO, El Diario de Hoy
• Eric Alterman, Founder/CEO, KickApps Corporation
• Rosental Alves, Knight Chair in International Journalism, University of Texas-Austin
• Kathy Andersen, Lois Pope LIFE Center, University of Miami
• Zita Arocha, Assoc. Director, Sam Donaldson Center, University of TX El Paso
• Adriana Avakian, Director of Marketing, United Press International
• Hannah Bae, Journalsim Intern, Knight Foundation
• Alice Backer, Francophonie Editor, Global Voices
• Nanna Baldersheim, Internet Community Associate
• Jacqui Banaszynski, Knight Chair in Editing, Missouri School of Journalism
• Joyce Barnathan, President, International Center for Journalists
• Marty Baron, Executive Editor, Boston Globe
• Clark Bell, Journalism Program Director, McCormick Tribune Foundation
• Dorian Benkoil, Editorial Director, mediabistro.com
• Ron Berryman, Senior VP, GM Television, Fox Interactive Media
• Roger Black, Roger Black Studio, Inc.
• Taryn Boatman, Assistant Program Officer, Excellence in Journalism Foundation
• James Brady, WPNI
• Kristie Bouryal, Director of Network Services, Associated Press
• Jody Brannon, Senior Editor, MSN.com
• Sophie Brendel, Head of PR-Editorial & Media, Reuters
• Brian Breslin, CEO, Infinimedia, Inc.
• Wendy Bromley Bodden, Managing Director, Images and Voices of Hope
• Merrill Brown, MMB Media
• Jane Brown, Executive Director, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation
• Gaby Bruna, Photo Editor, University of Miami Hurricane Newspaper
• Simon Bucks, Associate Editor, Sky News
• John Burke, The Editor’s Weblog
• Xavier Bussiere, Infinimedia, Inc.
• Mario Cader-French, Director, Public Affairs & CSR, MTV Networks Latin America
• Jennifer Carroll, Vice President/New Media Content, Gannett Co. Inc.
• Andy Carvin, National Public Radio Online
• Chad Capellman, Sr. Producer, Eons.com
• Susan Chang
• Sanjeev Chatterjee, Vice Dean, School of Communication, University of Miami
• Derek Chezzi, Senior News Editor, Yahoo Canada
• Nicholas Chiaia, COO & General Counsel, United Press International
• Farai Chideya, Host, News and Notes, NPR
• Jeff Clavier, Founder & Managing Partner, Softech VC
• Lauren Cornell, Executive Director, Rhizome.org
• Robert Cox, President, Media Bloggers Association
• Al Cupo
• Eileen Dailey, Director of Social Intelligence, Infina Group
• Larry Dailey, Associate. Professor, University of Nevada Reno
• Blyth Daylong, School of Communications, University of Miami
• Alex deCarvalho, President, Social Object
• Chuck DeFeo, Vice President & General Manager, Salem Communications
• Lori Demo, Assistant Professor, Ball State University
• John Dennison, President, Dennison Management Group, Inc.
• Carin Dessauer, Senior Fellow/Principal, iFOCOS and MC2
• Luis Diaz, www.periodismodepaz.org, Author
• Melissa De Leon Douglass, President, Panama Gourmet, Inc.
• Steven Donahue, Editor, Language Magazine
• John Dotson, Jr., Publisher Emeritus, Akron Beacon Journal
• Paul Driscoll, Director of Broadcasting, University of Miami
• Richard Ducey, EVP, BIA Financial Network
• Allen Dunaway
• Christina Eguizabal, Program Office, The Ford Foundation
• Amy Eisman, Director of Writing Programs, American University
• Karl Eisenhower, Washingtonpost.com
• Di-Ann Eisnor, CEO, Platial, Inc.
• Paula Ellis, Vice President/ National and New Initiatives, Knight Foundation
• Brandon Erlacher, General Manager, Truth Publishing Company
• Fernando Espuelas, Chairman & CEO, VOY, LLC.
• David Evans, Managing Director, Red 7 Media
• Cathleen Farrell, Editor, PODER
• Marc Fest, CEO, External Ideas
• Virginia Fielder, Consultant, Knight Foundation
• John Fischer, Infinia Foresight
• John Flickigner, Executive Director, Summerbridge
• Fabrice Florin, Executive Director, NewsTrust
• Marcos Foglia, Multimedia manager, El Nuevo Dia
• Dennis Fox
• Nic Fulton, Chief Scientist, Reuters Media
• Roger Gafke, Director of Program Development, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, University of Missouri
• Gregory Galant, Venture Voice
• Christine Gambito, Happy Slip
• Carlos Garcia, CEO, Scrapblog, Inc.
• Al Gashi, Business Development Manager, Pluck
• Mark Giannini, SVP & COO, BIA Financial Network
• Mark Gibelli, Co-Founder, StoryBoard Consulting, Inc.
• Robert Gilbert, Morris Communications
• Mark Glaser, Editor, PBS MediaShift
• Seth Gordon, Managing Partner, Gordon Reyes & Co.
• Jon Gossett, Senior Vice President, Development, American Public Media
• Michele Grant, BBC
• Mel Grayson, Arts Editor, Deerfield Forum
• William Green, Vice Provost, Undergrad Education, University of Miami
• Tish Grier, blog editor/social media manager, iFOCOS
• Kim Grinfeder, Assistant Professor, School of Communications, University of Miami
• Sam Grogg, Dean, School of Communication, University of Miami
• Hetti Haarklau, The Associated Press
• Ali Habashi, Director, Arnold Center
• Andrew Haeg, Senior Producer, Center for Innovation in Journalism @ American Public Media
• Michael Halleran
• Michelle Halsell, CEO/Co-founder, Missing Pixel
• Teresa Hanafin, Director of Community Publishing, Boston.com
• Erin Hanafy, The Associated Press
• Jens Hansen, Director, Center for Journalistik og Efteruddannelse (CFJE)
• Elin Hansen, Update
• Eduardo Hauser, CEO, Daily Me, Inc.
• Neal Hecker, AVP Program Services, WPBT
• Cristi Hegranes, President, Founder, The Press Institute for Women in the Developing World
• Don Heider, Associate Dean, University of Maryland
• Diane Hockenberry, Director of Audience Development, Newspaper Association of America
• Keith Hopper, Product Manager, Public Interactive LLC
• Paul Hyland, Executive Producer, edweek.org, Editorial Projects in Education
• Alberto Ibargüen, President, Knight Foundation
• Jeremy Iggers, Founder, Twin Cities Daily Planet
• Shel Israel, Author, Naked Conversations
• Joshua Johnson, Anchor/Reporter, WLRN Miami Herald News
• Pamela Johnson, Executive Director, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, University of Missouri
• Steve Johnson, Online Editor, The Associated Press
• Mark Jones, Community Editor, Reuters
• Brad Kalbfeld, Managing Editor, Broadcast, The Associated Press
• Ruth Kamar
• Stephanie Kanowitz, Web Editor, Federal Computer Week
• Gary Kebbel, Journalism Program Officer, Knight Foundation
• Loren Keller, Program Officer, The Stanley Foundation
• Jim Kennedy, VP Strategy, The Associated Press
• Katie King, Director, Marsteller Interactive
• Kent Kirschner, Account Executive, Neighborhood America
• Jemima Kiss, New Media Reporter, Guardian Unlimited
• Lillian Kopenhaver, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Florida International University
• Thomas Kunkel, Dean, University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism
• Beth Laing, Project Manager, iFOCOS
• Lisa Lamb, Vice President Sales & Marketing, DailyMe, Inc.
• Christina Lane, Assistant Professor, University of Miami
• Nancy Lane, President, Suburban Newspapers of America
• JD Lasica, President, Ourmedia
• Thomas LeBlanc, Provost, University of Miami
• Robyn LeVine, Reporter, School of Communications, University of Miami
• Suzanne Levinson, Director of Site Operations, Miami Herald Media Co.
• Rick Lewis, Executive Director & CEO, Friends of WLRN
• Greg Linch, News Editor, The Miami Hurricane
• Donna Logan, President, Canadian Media Research Consortium
• Joseph Loong, Senior Programming Manager, Blogs, AOL Inc.
• Bruno Lopez, VP, General Manager, Univision Online
• Luis Lora, Sr. Associate, Palladium Equity Partners, LLC
• Santiago Lyon, The Associated Press
• Stanislas Magniant, Co-founder, Netpolitique
• Ndesanjo Macha, Sub-Saharan Africa editor, Global Voices Online
• Mike Maidenberg, Vice President/Communities Program, Knight Foundation
• Michael Maness, VP/Strategic Planning, Newspapers, Gannet Co., Inc.
• Kofi Mangesi, Director, International Institute of ICT Journalism
• Steve Mansfield, PreFound.com
• Steven Marder, CEO, Eurekster
• Michael Markson
• Ernesto Martelli, Director Editorial, La Nacion, Grupo de Revistas
• Maria Martin, Director, GraciasVida Productions/GraciasVida Center for Media
• Jorge Martinez, Director of information Services, Knight Foundation
• Sibyl Masquelier, President, Executive Resource Group, Inc.
• Jeanne McCann, Director of New Media, EPE
• Karyn Meshbane,
• Mark Metz, Founder & CEO, MetroGuide.com, Inc.
• Larry Meyer, Vice President/Communications, Knight Foundation
• Myles Miller, Reporter, Children’s PressLine
• Robin Miller, Editor-in-chief, OSTG (aka Slashdot)
• Bill Mitchell, Editor, Poynter Online
• Harry Montevideo, Publisher, The Red and Black Publishing Co.
• Evgeny Morozov, Director of New Media, Transitions Online
• Sharon Moshavi, Communications Manager, Knight Foundation
• Andrew Nachison, President, iFOCOS
• Joe Natoli, Sr. VP for Business & Finance, University of Miami
• Eric Newman, VP, General Manager, Pluck Corporation
• Craig Newmark, Service Rep & Founder, craigslist
• Eric Newton, Vice President/Journalism Program, Knight Foundation
• Naomi Nixon, University of Miami
• Chris Nolan, Editor/Founder, Spot-on.com
• Sarah Nordgren, Director of State News, The Associated Press
• Rory O’Connor, President and CEO, Globalvision
• Brian O’Malley, Senior Associate, Battery Ventures
• Esteban Ochoa, Director 2Net, CIE Argentina
• Roger Ogden, President and CEO, Gannett Broadcasting
• Rich Oppel, Editor, Austin American-Statesman
• Mike Orren, President, Pegasus News, Inc.
• Elizabeth Osder, Sr. Director, Product Development, Yahoo Media Group
• Bill Ostendorf, CEO, Creative Circle Media Consulting
• Geneva Overholser, Hurley Chair, School of Journalism, University of Missouri
• Jeremiah Owyang, Director of Corporate Media Strategy, PodTech
• Angel Padula, CTO, Tele Red
• Angela Pacienza, Director of Online News, The Canadian Press & Broadcast News
• Gloria Pan, Communciatons Director, iFOCOS
• Souneil Park, M.S. student, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
• Lanaea Parker, Deputy Director, Knight, International Center of Journalists
• Horacio Ruiz Pavon, Publications Director, Inter American Press Association
• Ted Perlmutter, Director of IT, Ctr. for International Conflict Resolution
• Dale Peskin, Director, iFOCOS
• Mary Peskin, Associate Director, American Press Institute
• Geoffrey Philip, Global Voices
• Jason Pontin, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Technology Review, Inc.
• Georgia Popplewell, Co-Mg. Editor/Caribbean Editor, Global Voices
• Meredith Porte, Producer/Host, WLRN Public Television
• Vikki Porter, Director, Knight New Media Center, USC Annenberg School for Communication
• David Poulson, Assistant Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
• Adam Powell, Director, Integrated Media Center, University of Southern California
• Aaron Presnall, Director of Studies, Jefferson Institute
• Valentin Prieto, Writer/Editor, Babalu Blog
• Isaac Prilleltensky, Dean, School of Education, University of Miami
• Richard Prince, Editor/Writer, Black College Wire and The Maynard Institute
• Laurie Racine, SVP Strategy/Business Development, Eyespot
• Scott Rafer, CEO, MyBlogLog, Inc.
• Richard Rambarran, Manager of Web Development, University of Miami
• Brian Reich, Director of New Media, Cone Inc.
• Allan Richards, Chair, Dept. of Journalism, Florida International University
• Guillermo Riera, Digital Media Manager, LA NACION
• Richard Robinson, VP Products and Programming, Freewebs
• Daniel Robledo, Senior Webmaster, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• Luis Rodriguez, Webmaster, School of Communications, University of Miami
• Michael Rogers, Futurist-in-Residence, The New York Times Company
• Scott Rogers, President, MetroGuide.com, Inc.
• Gaston Roitberg, Content Manager, LA NACION
• Jay Rosen, Professor of Journalism, New York University
• Steven Rosenbaum, Magnify.net
• Alan Rosenblatt, Executive Director, Internet Advocacy Center
• Dan Rua, Managing Partner, Inflexion Partners & FloridaVentureBlog.com
• James Rucker, Executive Director, Color of Change
• Emilio Sanchez, Bureau Chief, Efe News Services
• Emilio Sanchez, Program Coordinator, Inter American Press Association
• Ramiro Sanchez
• David Sasaki, Regional Editor, Latin America, Global Voices
• Jon Sawyer, Director, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
• Jan Schaffer, Executive Director, J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
• Rick Schneider, President, WPBT Channel 2
• Mike Schreibman, Executive Director, Children’s PressLine
• Michelle Seeling, Assistant Professor, Visual Comm, University of Miami
• Tiffany Shackelford, Assistant Managing Editor, Stateline.org
• Susan Schein, Executive Director, Entertainment Industry Incubator
• Donna Shalala, President, University of Miami
• Michael Skoler, Executive Director, Center for Innovation in Journalism, American Public Media
• Rich Skrenta, CEO, Topix.net
• Andrea Spiegel, Editor-in Chief, VP of Content, Freewebs
• Mary Spillman, Assistant Professor, Ball State University
• Paul Steiger, Executive Editor, The Wall Street Journal
• Hal Straus, Interactivity and Commuity Ed, Washingtonpost Newsweek Interactive
• Lisa Stone, President, BlogHer
• Paul Surgrue, Dean, University of Miami School of Business
• JoAnne Sullivan Woolley, Director of Development, Internews Network
• Jeff Taylor, Founder & CEO, Eons.com
• Isaac Tetteh, Web Manager/Dep. News Editor, Radio Gold 90.5 fm
• Steve Tieitelbaum, Director, Medical Web Services, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• Elisa Tinsley, Director, Knight International, International Center for Journalists
• Michael Tippett, Co-founder, NowPublic.com
• Chris Tolles, VP Sales & Marketing, Topix.net
• Denise Tom, Journalism Program Specialist, Knight Foundation
• Dave Toole, CEO, Outhink Media
• Meredith Townsley, Associate Producer, Events, Red 7 Media
• Joseph Treaster, Reporter, New York Times
• Sheryl Tucker, Executive Editor, Time Inc.
• Vivian Vahlberg, Director of Digital Media, Media Management Center, Northwestern University
• Michelle van Gilder, Director International Business, Zogby International
• Ernesto van Peborgh
• Elissa Vanaver, Assistant to the Publisher, Miami Herald
• Carlos Vassallo, CEO, LatinVision Media
• Sandra Venditti, Online Newsroom Chief, LA NACION
• Chris Versace, Senior Vice President, Agile Equity
• Chris Waddle, Director, Knight Fellows in Community Journalism, University of Alabama
• Tsitsi Wakhisi, Associate Professor, School of Communication, University of Miami
• William Walker, University Librarian, University of Miami
• Alan Webber, Founder, Fast Company
• Rebecca Weeks, Director of Business Development, Real Girls Media
• William C. Weiss, Chairman and CEO, The Promar Group LLC
• Allie Williams, Marketing Manager, Zvents
• Kinsey Wilson, Executive Editor, USA Today
• William Wilson, Editor, New Media, etruth.com
• Kurt Wimmer, SVP, General Counsel, Gannett Co. Inc.
• Emily Witt, Staff Writer, Miami New Times
• Scott Woelfel, Armchair Media
• Anthony Wojtkowiak, University of Miami
• Ruiyan Xu, Associate Producer Interactive, P.O.V./American Documentary
• JJ Yore, Marketplace
• John Zogby, President, Zogby International

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