Hacks/Hackers launches Connect series in Berlin

Around 100 journalists and technologists passionate about the future of media joined the weekend event in the German capital

Storified by Burt Herman· Sun, Jun 28 2015 22:04:05

We kicked off Hacks/Hackers' first-ever global event series with a packed room of more than 100 participants at the Berlin Factory, bringing together members of the grassroots movement along with entrepreneurs, journalists and developers passionate about the intersection of media and technology.Intense media hacking @HacksHackers @burtherman @NMA_vc #hhcxn http://t.co/oB1x4LlLv8Meinolf EllersThe event took place steps away from the former Berlin Wall in the once-divided city, an especially fitting location because Hacks/Hackers is all about tearing down walls between journalism and technology. Through building respect between storytellers and developers, we aim to create a sustainable future for journalism to continue its essential watchdog role for society, whatever form that may take.We are live in Berlin with the first Connect event kicking off by @phillipadsmith #hhcxn http://t.co/ZUMItel5b1Hacks/HackersOver one and a half days, attendees at the event had the chance to collaborate, network and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing media.All of these diverse people want to redesign news. Good times for journalism! #hhcxn http://t.co/ZLzdlNogkTJens TwiehausThe centerpiece of the event was a design-thinking experience giving everyone a chance to meaningfully connect with each other, hopefully finding potential collaborators for future projects.Burt HermanOff to a buzzing start at Factory Berlin #designthinking #innovation #hhcxn #hackshackers #googlenewslabAshley MHacks/Hackers ist nicht einfach nur reden, hier wird heute geschafft! #HHCXNKersten A. Riechers_Translation: “Hacks/Hackers isn't just for speaking, today we're getting things done here!"_Design thinking at #HHCXN @Hackshackers in #Berlin. Interviewee: @mguth http://t.co/g50hRYr9ohhostwriterMy first graphic recording on a #betabook #hhcxn (creds to amazing team whose Twitter handles I don’t have yet!) http://t.co/X4amp29m2HLucy ChambersBrainstorming on a challenge for the future of journalism at #hhcxn – how to engage and empower users to take action? http://t.co/WX6abPLMYgLetizia GambiniTable 8 #designthinking #hhcxn http://t.co/qdImtAtMNaMichael SchultheißWe also took some time out from the prototyping to hear from Rob Wijnberg, founder of the Netherlands' De Correspondent news site that raised more than 1 million euros for their project, a journalism crowdfunding record:Burt HermanReaders are smart, engaged: @decorrespondent on the idea that publishing is the BEGINNING not END of the journalistic process #hhcxnAela Callan"Design is very important: as important as everything else.” @decorrespondent @HacksHackers @Zielina #hhcxnAela CallanEarlier, Dirk Herzbach, CEO of Next Media Accelerator, gave some quick entrepreneurial lessons from his startup experience. The accelerator is accepting applications for their first-ever class:Hamburg’s Next Media Accelerator CEO @herzbach sharing insights and inspiration @NMA_vc #hhcxn @hackshackers http://t.co/FMCiDZqnrIHacksHackersConnectAt the start of the event, I spoke with Anita Zielina from Switzerland's Neue Zürcher Zeitung about why we're doing this: giving people from Hacks/Hackers and beyond an opportunity to connect on a deeper level than can happen at a usual evening meetup. We also discussed some lessons from building Storify:@HacksHackersCXN off to a great start with @burtherman and @Zielina discussing the future of media #hhcxn http://t.co/Goglqrb9XEHacks/HackersOur event producer Phillip Smith (and Hacks/Hackers firestarter in Canada) did a wonderful job herding cats on and off the Internet to keep things fun and moving, and we amazingly ran ahead of schedule:Burt HermanThank you to everyone who participated! We hope you found it valuable and inspiring, are we're taking your feedback seriously as we plan future events that are coming soon … Really glad I made the effort to wake up early this Saturday morning to join Hacks/Hackers event. Great experience & networking! #hhcxnLetizia GambiniThanks @HacksHackersBER @hackshackers @phillipadsmith for a day full of fun and inspiration! #hhcxnnicole walterBack in Hamburg after intense hours at #hhcxn . Hope both: mentoring and user-ing were helpful. I had a lot of fun working with you guysgkampAwesomest projects ever after only 4 hrs of Design Thinking at #hhcxn, about content verification, mobile storytelling, journalism hacks.Anita ZielinaA brilliant @HacksHackersCXN event in Berlin, 12 teams with great ideas. Where next for #HHCXN? http://t.co/yDvM41ZbWrMatt CookeOur work here is done #hhcxn @ Prater Biergarten http://t.co/Neqdn50CYpPhillip Smith