First Person: Hans van Keken

A Challenge to Open Up: a Glance at US Media in the Catskills (NY) from a Dutch Point of View

 
What's next? A simple question that kept lingering in my mind, after the wonderful annual Summit of Images and Voices of Hope, that took place at the end of September 2009. Magical and miraculous it was. But the more I reflect on this meeting, the more I feel there's a challenge for people working in media - and I'm one of them. A challenge to open up to possibilities, in this new year.

For me, the Summit was - no doubt - one of the most inspiring events this past year. And those who participated will probably confirm this. Fabulous food, engaging people, thoughtful talks, networking, awards and a magnificent and inspiring location. What more can one wish for, being in a place that feels like heaven on earth? No wonder, they call it Peace Village.

It was Judy Rogers' visit to the Dutch media-city Hilversum, at the beginning of 2008, that made me long to experience an annual summit. Mostly because I liked the idea of ‘appreciative inquiry', one of her basics. It looked rather similar to the way I fruitfully worked, for some years, as an ombudsman at the newspaper I am still working for: Neutral (not objective), activating, readers as a major source, and making a difference for them. Very successful, although many of my colleagues say it's not real journalism.

This ‘appreciative inquiry' might be part of the new attitude that journalism is in need of at the moment, operating in a world where the established media finally are falling down and where we experience an ongoing democratization of the traditional media. It feels that we are witnessing a pivotal point in history, so I was really curious what that meeting in the Catskill Mountains should bring me. Would the distance from the usual hasty and sometimes superficial life of journalistic routines open new horizons? The meditation in the early morning, led by people from the Brahma Kumaris, contributed to it anyway. And further I also met lots of inspiring people, who try to do inspiring work. Whether they work for an audience of millions, or just for a few thousands, it's all equal to me.

Then the questions. What will technology do? How important are bloggers? How can we still go into the depth and investigate the news? And, as an important factor at these times of insecurity, will I still have a job and if not, what's next? I got several business-cards (quite funny to realize that I still don't consider myself a journalistic entrepreneur... ;-). Always good to collects those .. you'll never know.

I also have to share something about that somehow intriguing Saturday morning of the Summit, when two campaigns (‘Real beauty' by Dove and ‘Hopenhagen'), were presented as outstanding achievements in Advertising. I'm sure they are, but why don't they dare to go further on this path of introspection as ads- and marketing-men. This question of mine wasn't really welcomed in the obvious vulnerable world of US media. Even though this summit was using the appreciative inquiry method.

It made me realize that there can be new steps to take. Not only for the ads- and marketing-men, but also for the journalists and other people in the creative industry. Not only because I do hope that at our next meeting there will be far more contributions from outside the US, like from China, India, Africa and the Far East. So we can get a broader and more-dimensional (not only US-based, with all respect) perspective, but also because it's time for people working in media to make a difference, more than some of us already do.

For example, by focusing on possibilities instead of problems of the status quo. By searching for sustainable topics instead of hypes. By replacing our cynicism by altruism, and to give a voice to the voiceless and weak, with new technology - social media, sites and internet - by our side. Let us abandon our old habit of being content with only polarizing news topics. It's about time that instead, we become aware of our responsibilities, and reflect upon our motives. To ask ourselves, whether they are of the highest interest of all.

It's time to make a difference. In a practical and solid way, to use our abilities, inspired by integrity, harmony and justice. It probably won't be successful all the time, but let's start with ‘sometimes'. Together we can try and share the positive results with one another. Next time.