<h3><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Thanks to The Patterson Foundation's New Media Initiative!</strong></span></h3>
The Journalism Accelerator advanced light years with frugal but focused support from <a href="http://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/" target="_blank">The Patterson Foundation</a> and TPF's new media initiative manager <a href="http://www.thepattersonfoundation.org/initiatives/new-media-journalism/" target="_blank">Janet Coats</a>. Coats brings a tenured understanding of the field of journalism and new media to the JA. TPF has made a strategic and practical contribution, <a href="http://nmj.thepattersonfoundation.org/?p=458" target="_blank">accelerating the work</a> of the JA team, allowing us to apply years of program and product development experience combined with grass roots and civic engagement expertise. The blending of news industry and new media knowledge has created a glide path for the JA project to ramp up and bring this experiment to market in record time.  JA founder Lisa Skube says she is especially:
<blockquote>grateful to TPF for their investment in the technology and organizing framework of the JA. Thinking outside of the box has been encouraged. TPF holds our greatest respect and gratitude for their open and enlightened approach to partnership. The JA serves as a resource for its community — not a particular institution, academy, or funder.</blockquote>
TPF has invested in the build of JA's "test" <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/blog/engagement-is-not-a-spectator-sport-value-of-local-tv-report-2/">infrastructure</a> to support the proof of concept phase. We continue to <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/blog/login-profiles-and-authentication-janrain-the-journalism-accelerator-and-you/">report out</a> to the JA community as we closely <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/blog/ja-reports-tv-forum-results-and-whats-next/">monitor effectiveness</a>. TPF's collaborative approach on this project encourages new possibilities of partnering around the shared stake of sustainable journalism.
<h3><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Thanks to the Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellows Program! </strong></span></h3>
JA founder Lisa Skube served as a <a href="http://www.rjionline.org/news/accelerating-collaboration-and-innovation-journalism" target="_blank">Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow</a> over the 2010-2011 academic year. This was the first year <a href="http://www.rjionline.org" target="_blank">RJI</a> considered practitioners with "big ideas," and it was an amazing opportunity to listen to and learn from publishers in different parts of the country. The fellowship year enriched the JA project with resources to:
<ul>
	<li>Vet forum requirements that connect local news and information producers.</li>
	<li>Generate <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/blog/alki-event-helps-inform-ja-experiment/">original content</a> covering areas news producers have identified as <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/blog/ecosystem-impact-hyperlocal-publishers-share-early-impressions-on-the-patch-migration/">commonly shared</a> (e.g. Patch, metrics, new media J-curriculum, net neutrality, revenue, etc.).</li>
	<li>Visit local news practitioners for one-on-one conversations, interviews and informal gatherings to learn how they see their local news and information landscape and tap into their great thinking around issues and opportunities.</li>
	<li>Gain guidance from the <a href="http://www.osdergroup.com/" target="_blank">Osder group</a>, to help up the JA's game and refine the service model and feature set.</li>
</ul>
<h5><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>During the RJI Fellowship, the development of the JA was informed and inspired by people and  thinking:</strong></span></h5>
<ul>
	<li>In Chicago at <a href="http://www.blockbyblock.us/" target="_blank">Block by Block's</a> first gathering of local online news publishers.</li>
	<li>In Washington, D.C. at the <a href="http://journalists.org/" target="_blank">Online News Association 2010 conference.</a> (Bonus points for being there at the same time as Jon Stewart &amp; Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity.)</li>
	<li><a href="http://journalismthatmatters.org/blog/2011/02/18/seattles-bold-plan-for-a-journalism-commons/" target="_blank">In the Pacific Northwest</a>, where an incredible diversity of entrepreneurial creativity holds promise to take publishing to new heights.</li>
	<li>In Austin, Texas at the 2011 <a href="http://sxsw.com/interactive" target="_blank">SXSWi</a> event, an interactive innovation smorgasbord.</li>
</ul>
[caption id="attachment_604" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Launching the JA project with Journalism that Matters."]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-604" title="Launching the JA project in collaboration with Journalism that Matters (JTMPNW) in Seattle." src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/motherlode-3-26-2011-0212-150x150.jpg" alt="Launching the JA project in collaboration with Journalism that Matters (JTMPNW) in Seattle." width="150" height="150" />[/caption]
<h3 style="color: #000000;"><strong>Thanks to Journalism That Matters Pacific Northwest!</strong></h3>
JA is grateful for the participation of <a href="http://www.jtmpnw.org/" target="_blank">Journalism That Matters</a> Pacific Northwest collaboration partners and initiative teams for helping test and review JA's service platform.
<p style="text-align: left;">Peggy Holman, Mike Fancher, Rick Vanderknyff, Anne Stadler, Chris Tugwell, Karen Johnson, Jeff Vander Clute, Jacob Caggiano, Sheetal Agarwal and many other community members kindly participated in JA launch team interviews, provided focus group facilitiation and feedback, or helped with survey initiatives.</p>
Thanks to early JA participants for piloting the concept, offering perspective and providing inspiration as a uniquely collaborative media community.
<h3 style="color: #000000; display: block; clear: both;"><strong>Thanks to the JA's launch dev team!</strong></h3>
<img class="alignright size-full" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Jeff Lennan" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/jeff_ja.jpg" alt="Jeff Lennan" width="126" height="126" /><strong style="color: #000000;">Jeff Lennan</strong>

As the JA's first lead technologist, <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/jeff-lennan/" target="_blank">Jeff Lennan</a> created the technical scaffolding that integrates many systems across the JA. Jeff brought a wealth of experience in development and day-to-day use of Web applications for communications, advocacy and activism. Jeff is a partner at <a href="http://www.redhotpenguin.com/" target="_blank">Red Hot Penguin</a>, an open source technology development outfit based in San Francisco, and at <a href="http://www.winningmark.com/" target="_blank">Winning Mark</a>, a political campaign firm based in Portland, Oregon.

<img class="alignright size-full" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Fred Moyer" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/fred.png" alt="Fred Moyer" width="126" height="126" /><strong style="color: #000000;">Fred Moyer</strong>

<a href="http://www.redhotpenguin.com/" target="_blank">Red Hot Penguin</a> founder <a href="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/members/fred-moyer/" target="_blank">Fred Moyer</a> brought the genius that enabled the JA vision of technology in service of community. Fred founded Red Hot Penguin in 2003 to share his dream of commercially competitive open source software solutions to the world. He is an experienced software engineer and entrepreneur and an <a href="http://www.apache.org/foundation/members.html" target="_blank">Apache Software Foundation</a> member. He has developed innovative software products such as ePhone (a volunteer web-based call center), Sherpa (a Basecamp email gateway) and <a href="http://www.silverliningnetworks.com/#source_slwifi" target="_blank">Silver Lining</a>.
<h3 style="color: #000000; display: block; clear: both;"><strong>Thanks to JA's launch, beta and early support team!</strong></h3>
The JA could not have gotten off the ground without the dedication, support and creativity of many people. Special thanks to these early contributors and their many valuable skills.
<div class="yearbook" style="clear: both; background-color: #ccc;">
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%; padding-top: 2%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-419" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Guy Trombley" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/guy.png" alt="Guy Trombley" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Guy Trombley</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%; padding-top: 2%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-431" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Tram Whitehurst" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tram.png" alt="Tram Whitehurst" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Tram Whitehurst</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-606" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Ilene Davis" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ilene_davis.png" alt="Ilene Davis" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Ilene Davis</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-388" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Caitlin Giddings" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/caitlin.png" alt="Caitlin Giddings" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Caitlin Giddings</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="yearbook" style="clear: both; height: auto;">
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1961" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Kelsey Friedman" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/JAkelsey-e1307136827419.jpg" alt="Kelsey Friedman" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Kelsey Friedman</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2330" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Samantha Clemans" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Samantha.jpg" alt="Samantha Clemans" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Samantha Clemans</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-476" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Jeremy Sher" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/jeremy.jpg" alt="Jeremy Sher" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Jeremy Sher</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
<div style="float: left; width: 40%; height: 200px; padding: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-476" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" title="Jeremy Sher" src="http://www.journalismaccelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DeniseHeadshot.jpg" alt="Jeremy Sher" width="126" height="126" /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<h4 style="color: #000000; text-align: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Denise Cheng</strong></h4>
&nbsp;

</div>
</div>
</div>