Welcome to our new online home! Why did we change the site’s name from “Build the Echo” to “Beyond the Echo”? When we started our research in 2005, it was all the rage to talk about how progressive media needed “infrastructure”–an echo chamber to mirror and combat the right’s noise machine. Over the past four years of our research, writing and organizing, we’ve come to believe that progressive media’s impact and success depends on moving “beyond the echo chamber” to a collaborative, networked model of reporting and community building.

Speaking of our reporting and research, we are excited to announce that February 9, 2010 is the publication date for our first book book, Beyond The Echo Chamber: Reshaping Politics Through Networked Progressive Media. (You can start ordering it now!) In January we will release a series of new visualizations that illustrate our theory (outlined in the book) of the “four network layers” that media outlets must strategically integrate into their planning to shape and distribute their content for maximum impact. Here’s a hint! These include:

• Networked Users
• Self-Organized Networks
• Institutional Networks
• Networks of Institutions

Aren’t you intrigued already?

In the meantime this site will build upon the book’s theories of strategic impact, feature the latest news and trends related to the future of journalism and track the latest high-impact media projects. Watch this space for news about our book tour, tidbits from the book and more. We invite you to comment, offer suggestions about related stories and projects for us to cover, and join us as we continue to follow the intersection of media, politics and change.