New Assignment.Net is a non-profit site that tries to spark innovation in journalism by showing that open collaboration over the Internet among reporters, editors and large groups of users can produce high-quality work that serves the public interest, holds up under scrutiny, and builds trust.

We are seeking collaborators and contributors.

Here’s how you can help:

* Help us cover our beat. The NewAssignment.Net blog tracks developments in open source journalism, covers related innovations on the Web, interviews people who have wisdom to lend, and previews some of what’s to come in 2007. Recently we met Regina Lynn, a sex-tech columnist for Wired News, who works her beat with the help of a smart mob. We also interviewed Asa Doztler, the Mozilla Foundation’s “community guy,” about his experiences working with users to create and maintain Mozilla’s Firefox browser. Do you know practitioners of open-source journalism like Regina? Do you know community builders and leaders like Asa? Tell us.

* Brainstorm next New Assignment assignments. How can we — journalists, bloggers, and the public-at-large — work together? Curious what others have suggested? You can read the first suggestions we got in this comment thread. (Note: we will copy suggestions made elsewhere on NAN to this section) Share your ideas.

* Write for New Assignment.Net. Network journalism is a big subject. Help inform our community about what’s happening in open source news. For reference, check out our recently published community submissions: Derek van Vliet’s, KC Crain’s, Zephyr Teachout’s, and Tom Evslin’s. Just fill out the form below and one of our editors will contact you.