My name is Colin Rhinesmith. I am a PhD Student and Information in Society Fellow at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (iSchool), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am also an Affiliate with the New America Foundation’s Media Policy Initiative.

Previously, I was Community Media and Technology Manager for Cambridge Community Television (CCTV), where I managed the NeighborMedia citizen journalism program and computerCENTRAL, CCTV’s public computer lab. Before joining the staff at CCTV, I worked for the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, where I co-convened a number of events, including Wikimania 2006, Center for Citizen Media’s Citizen Journalism un-conference, and Beyond Broadcast at Harvard Law School. I also produced projects for MediaBerkman and the Citizen Media Law Project.

My research focuses on the interaction between geographic communities and information and communication technology with a particular focus on social and digital inequalities. My work with community media and technology has been mentioned by PBS MediaShift, NetSquared, Current.org, and the MacArthur Foundation’s Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning.

I have presented workshops and lectures on media and technology at Harvard Law School, Columbia University, Bentley University, and Apple, Inc., and I was the keynote speaker for the 2006 Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region Conference. I am a member of the Alliance for Community Media, Association for Computing Machinery, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, and International Association of Media and Communication Research.

(Photo above by Joanie Tobin)

This Blog

This blog was created as a space to write about, share ideas, and discuss the ways individuals, groups, and institutions are involved in creating and sharing information in networked environments.

This is my personal blog. The views expressed on this blog are my own. I am not getting paid to write this blog, nor am I speaking on behalf of my employer in any way. Any discussion of things related to my work, or to events I might publicize here, or to themes that also relate to my professional life, is incidental and something I would be doing regardless of my professional circumstances.

My Background

Before becoming a media geek, I used to make records.  To see a list of recordings I’ve engineered, produced and performed on, visit Allmusic and Artist Direct.

To see what I’ve been up to more recently, please visit my CV.