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Editors must adjust to the fact that citizen use of the Internet has eliminated their "previously omnipotent control" over news presentation and timing, the editor of The Guardian of London told journalists gathered at Harvard University. And Alan Rusbridger says news organizations without ombudsman or reader representatives will be seen as "increasingly odd." (Also see: Jeff Jarvis' blog on Rusbridger talk).

Rusbridger was speaking (FULL TEXT)  / (PDF) on Monday (April 21) to about 40 participants at the annual convention of the Organization of News Ombudsmen, held at the Walter Lippmann House headquarters of the Nieman Foundation.

ABOVE, from left: Hume, Crossley, Williams, Wilpers (VIEW MORE PHOTOS)

MediaNation blogger and Northeastern University journalism professor Dan Kennedy highlights a philosophical exchange between Ellen Hume and John Wilpers on the classic question -- should newspapers lead or follow the public in making news judgements? Read what Kennedy wrote on his blog.  The exchange occurred at the innaugural "Civic News Library Listening Series" event of the New England News Forum at the Boston Public Library on Thurs., May 17. Nearly 40 people attended.  (LAUNCH STREAMING VIDEO / 1 hour, 31 mins. / QUICKTIME  OR  FLASH); Also learn about Jim Caralis' OpenMass project and Pete Stidman's Alliance for Community Journalism.

New England News Forum public panel (admission free): "Restoring Media Trust: The News Revolution -- What Does It Mean to Your Community," with James Boylan, founding editor of Columbia Journalism Review; Heather Brandon, Springfield city "blogger"; Madeleine Blais, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and UMass professor; and Larry McDermott, CEO and publisher, The Republican. Thurs., May 24, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Springfield [Mass.] City Library. For more information call 413-577-4370. Details at: NENF website.

Fabrice Florin, NewsTrust directorThe New England News Forum is partnering with a California-based non-profit organization, Newstrust, to test a new way of studying reporting quality. Newstrust is a two-year-old effort to build a web-based resource which allows consumers and journalists alike to systematically rate the quality, content and trustworthiness of news sources and individual stories. To learn more go to the Newstrust BETA site created for the New England News Forum.