"Reconstruction" Redux

There's been some fascinating discussion online about the "The Reconstruction of American Journalism" report issued last week by former executive editor of The Washington Post Len Downie, and Michael Schudson, professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism -- the report recommends, in part, an increase in government funding for news.

Much of the back-and-forth has focused on the question of funding for new news models, as well as the need for new kinds of journalism. Here's another view from Tom Grubisich, writing about the report on OJR: Wanted: Less rhetoric, more critical thinking...

But there's no mistaking the report's acknowledgement of the rise in new, independent news sources and the importance of the entrepreneurial impulse.

"[D]igital technology—joined by innovation and entrepreneurial energy—is opening new possibilities for reporting," notes the report. "Different kinds of news organizations are being started by journalists who have left print and broadcast, and also by universities and their students, Internet entrepreneurs, bloggers, and so-called “citizen journalists, ... [m]any of the startups are still quite small and financially fragile, but they are multiplying steadily."

The report also cites the "fast-increasing number of blog-like hyperlocal neighborhood news sites across the country" which report in more detail on their communities than newspapers can, filling gaps left by news industry downsizing.

Check out the full report here, along with writeups by Poynter's Bill Mitchell and reactions.

What do you think? Is there enough acknowledgement in this discussion of the importance of the rising jurno-entrepreneur and the niche sites they're already creating?