August 14, 2014 // Front 50 marked the Agora Journalism Center’s inaugural gathering, serving as a foundational event to listen, learn, and establish our direction.
During a period of significant technological, cultural, and political change in journalism, we convened 50 community leaders, journalists, technologists, philanthropists, and civic innovators from across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Our objective was not to provide definitive answers, but to identify the most pressing questions.
- What forms of journalism are essential for a healthy democracy?
- Which communities are being served, and which are being excluded?
- How can media systems be designed to foster civic belonging, participation, and equity?
These questions guided the Front 50 gathering. This event launched our journey, grounded in humility, community engagement, and a conviction that journalism must evolve in response to the needs of the public it serves.
The relationships, insights, and momentum generated during this event have shaped the mission, strategy, and ethos of the Agora Journalism Center.