The Conversation Intends To Be "A New Approach to Journalism". (March 28, 2011)

A former editor of The Observer, The Age and The Sunday Herald, Andrew Jaspan, together with Jack Rejtman have launched the website The Conversation, which describes itself as "an independent source of information, analysis and commentary".

The not-for-profit enterprise has secured funding from ANU, Monash, Melbourne, UTS and UWA - as well as CSIRO, and intends to be an avenue to:

• Unlock the knowledge and expertise of researchers and academics to provide the public with clarity and insight into society’s biggest problems.

• Give experts a greater voice in shaping scientific, cultural and intellectual agendas by providing a trusted platform that values and promotes new thinking and evidence-based research.

• Provide a fact-based and editorially-independent forum, free of commercial or political bias.

• Create an open site for people around the world to share best practices and collaborate on developing smart, sustainable solutions.

• Ensure quality, diverse and intelligible content reaches the widest possible audience by employing experienced editors to curate the site.

• Ensure the site’s integrity by only obtaining non-partisan sponsorship from education, government and private partners. Any advertising will be relevant and non-obtrusive.

• Work with our academic, business and government partners and our advisory board to ensure we are operating for the public good.

• Support and foster academic freedom to conduct research, teach, write and publish.

According to its website The Conversation is headed by Andrew Jaspan, Jack Rejtman, Michael Morris and Misha Ketchell;  Editor, General Manager,  Technical Director and  Managing Editor respectively. In addition there are listed ten Section Editors and Assistant Editors, four members of the Development Team, an Administrator, fourteen Board of Directors and Advisers -- two of whom are Andrew Jaspan, Jack Rejtman, and a six-member Editorial Board.

The overall description of the areas of interest are listed as

Business + Economy
Environment + Energy
Health + Medicine
Politics + Society
Science + Technology

The inaugural Home Page: