---
title: 'OPB Think Out Loud: Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter on the rebirth of local journalism'
date: '2009-11-17T08:43:34-08:00'
type: post
word_count: 339
char_count: 2035
tokens: 441
categories:
  - '#featured'
  - Journalism
  - Media
  - OPB
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - Radio
tags:
  - 'abraham hyatt'
  - 'michelle rafter'
  - OPB
  - 'think out loud'
  - 'we make the media'
---

# OPB Think Out Loud: Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter on the rebirth of local journalism

I’ve said it once or twice, I’ll probably say it again a few more times: Portland is a pretty darn bloggy town. In fact, blogging is probably right up there with brewpubs and restaurants in the “per capita” standings.

But what happens when those blogs stop being personal pontifications and navel gazing and become something more? What happens when they move from the realm of online diary to online media outlet? When the writing becomes journalistic?

That’s what [Abraham Hyatt](http://twitter.com/abrahamhyatt "Abraham Hyatt") and [Michelle Rafter](http://twitter.com/michellerafter "Michelle Rafter") of the [We Make The Media](http://www.wemakethemedia.org/ "We Make The Media") project will be discussing, this morning, on [OPB Think Out Loud: Rebirth of local journalism](http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/rebirth-local-journalism/ "OPB Think Out Loud: Rebirth of local journalism").

> Now the time has come to really explore that question. Next weekend there is a conference taking place in Portland called We Make the Media. The organizers, most of whom are very involved with the local journalism scene in one way or another, say: “The journalism we want and need is dying, dead—or yet to be born. The time has come for new approaches, tools, business models, and media organizations to be built and nurtured.”

Think Out Loud begins at 9 AM, this morning. You can listen on FM 91.5 in Portland or [catch it livestreamed on the OPB site](http://www.opb.org/radio/ "Listen to OPB"). It’s a call-in show, so if you’ve got a question or opinion, um, call in.

If you miss it, you can always find it in the [OPB Think Out Loud archives](http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/archives/2009/nov/ "OPB Think Out Loud archives").

For more on the conference, visit [We Make the Media](http://www.wemakethemedia.org/ "We Make the Media"). Or [follow @WeMakeTheMedia on Twitter](http://twitter.com/wemakethemedia "WeMakeTheMedia on Twitter").