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August 26, 2010, 05:32 PM ET

An Open Online Course for 'Hacks' and 'Hackers'

By Marc Parry

Code is not something most reporters learn in j-school. But as media and technology converge online, a group called Hacks/Hackers is trying to bring together journalists (those would be the hacks) and programmers (hackers). Their agenda? To geek out, drink some beer, and maybe figure out the future of media.

Now the group and several other collaborators are expanding that dialogue into a new open online course that kicks off September 15. The idea is that media types and programmers will teach each other about their respective crafts. The class and its materials will be available free through P2P University, an experiment in open peer-to-peer teaching.

"There’s a big hunger in the media community to learn more from technology," says Burt Herman, a former Associated Press correspondent who founded Hacks/Hackers. "I think technologists realize, too, that they need great content."

The tentative list of confirmed speakers includes Mark Surman of Mozilla Foundation; Amanda B. Hickman of DocumentCloud; Nick Grossman of OpenPlans; Rob Purdie of The Economist; Nick Judd of Personal Democracy Forum; and Joaquin Alvarado of American Public Media.

(Hat tip: OLDaily)

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1. arrive2__net - August 28, 2010 at 12:17 am

Meetings of minds like this can often play a breakthrough role as each side learns what is possible, given what the other side knows. Also, Hacks may not know who to work with on the technology side, but this type of encounter enables them to get to know technologists, and to figure out who might have the knowledge needed, and who they might be able to trust. The Hackers may also have ideas, but need to meet some content providers and learn what they can offer in order to move forward. Often the biggest hurdles to projects is figuring out what is possible and who to work with.

Bernard Schuster
Arrive2.net

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