Increasingly I believe newspapers will become more and more like civic centers, libraries, or even local cafes. I don’t know who owns NewsCafe.com, but they have potential to be the next newsroom of Miami.

Today the Seattle Times announced a contest: to “design your own Seattle Center.” Via CyberJournalist “The Seattle Times is inviting readers to help design the Seattle Center of the future. The paper is soliciting ideas and says city officials are interested in the ideas and may incorporate them into a blueprint that will guide Seattle Center redevelopment over the next 20 to 30 years.”

In this sense the Seattle Times is playing the role of moderator.

Soon the News-Press in Florida is going to hold a round table about child welfare. This might seem like advocacy - but I think it’s safe to say that ‘child welfare’ is an issue any community can rally around - especially in the towns the News-Press covers where multiple children have died in recent years. The newspaper has recognized that there is a community issue and is creating the physical space for concerned citizens to come together.

So often we talk about how news organizations need to act as community moderators online, creating a safe space for discussion to happen through them. I believe in that, but I also believe that ethos should continue out into the real world.

I am incredibly excited that the San Jose Mercury News has agreed to host the first ever CopyCamp, which I believe is something every newsroom can benefit from.

I will blog solely about CopyCamp in the near future, but for now - if you live in the bay area, have an interest in how the newspapers cover your community - come join us.