Transparency breaks down "fortress newsroom" as a conversation begins.

Steven A. Smith of the Spokesman Review is the guest columnist for pressthink and writes about transparency in the newsroom. He contrasts the typical "fortress newsroom" mentality with an open, conversational newsroom where citizens participate. He has enough experience to provide a long view of newsroom attitudes toward readers. I think his point is that no matter what professional journalists think, the user/viewer consumer is in charge, so its not about whether to cede some control, but about how to do it effectively. [tagname]