Skip to content

Panel: Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York: Jane Jacobs and an Activist Press

Jane Jacobs and other activists were canny media strategists, and they worked both mainstream and alternative outlets to spread their messages, affect public perception and try to create both community and change. Today, blogging and other virtual forms of journalism are being used to greater and lesser effect by activists, developers and others trying to shape the debate over the city's future.
JJ_web_logo.jpg

Jane Jacobs and other activists were canny media strategists, and they worked both mainstream and alternative outlets to spread their messages, affect public perception and try to create both community and change. Today, blogging and other virtual forms of journalism are being used to greater and lesser effect by activists, developers and others trying to shape the debate over the city’s future.

This panel will consider the lineage of activist journalism, from pamphletting and the early Village Voice to today’s online investigative journalism and community organizing.

  • Sewell Chan, The New York Times — moderator
  • Gay Talese, author
  • Norman Oder, Atlantic Yards Report
  • Alberto Vourvoulias-Bush, El Diario
  • Jane Hamsher, Firedoglake.com
Photo of Aaron Donovan
Before he began blogging about land use and transportation, Aaron Donovan wrote The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund's annual fundraising appeal for three years and earned a master's degree in urban planning from Columbia. Since then, he has worked for nonprofit organizations devoted to New York City economic development. He lives and works in the Financial District, and sees New York's pre-automobile built form as an asset that makes New York unique in the United States, and as a strategic advantage that should be capitalized upon.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘A Solution, But To What Problem?’ Experts Say AVs Are The Elephant In The Room, But There’s Still Time To Figure Out Their Role

April 20, 2026

Opinion: Don’t Design Grand Army Plaza For 2007 — Build It For The Future

April 20, 2026

AG James Won’t Charge Cop Who Ran Over And Dragged Sleeping Man in Park While Applying Makeup

April 20, 2026

Monday’s Headlines: World Cup Fuss Edition

April 20, 2026

Crashes Went Down 15% In Harlem Trash Container Zone, As Mamdani Hawks Citywide Rollout

April 17, 2026
See all posts