In spending a few days with our new friends from Belgium interested to create their own generative journalism agency I had a few of those moments that are hard to describe; flash-forwards, you might call them, when you feel the future bursting ahead, wide, wide open with possibilities.

I had the same sense just days before I started with Axiom News more than 10 years ago. Driving down Peterborough’s Parkhill Hill Road West, just where it turns onto Chemong, I had this hard-to-articulate intuition — there’s something in this opportunity, hard to put my finger on, but I’m certain it’s going to be far beyond what I can imagine now.

I’ve definitely experienced that sense turn into real life since —  this conversation with our Belgian friends, Griet Bouwen, Cathy Camertijin and Arno Vansichen, was another instance of it.

We spent days in coffee shops, at the office, on some northern trails and in a gathering room overlooking Little Lake in the heart of Peterborough. We talked about their dreams, our dreams, their strengths, our strengths and how we might synergize them.

It was in exploring a little more what shape a global news network might actually take that I was most affected. Yes, there is much more to be discussed, but one of the intriguing ideas was around learning together as a core activity of this network.

As Griet, Cathy and Arno launch their own generative journalism firm, as Axiom continues to expand its work, and, ideally, as others join in — we’ve even heard of opportunities in Bhutan — we stay connected.

We learn from each other, we innovate together, we push each other to new heights.

Imagine how much more generative and transformational a power this new kind of media could be with a deep commitment to learning and innovating together.

The possibilities around how generative journalism populates the world are also wide open. Griet’s dream is to launch her own media firm built on generative, organization-based journalism. She’s thinking of creating a network organization, with all employees equal shareholders. Some of the other visions that have sprung up are of Axiom creating bureaus in countries around the world, putting the infrastructure in place, hiring locally, possibly eventually turning the business into a locally-owned co-op if there was interest. Some possible benefits to this: smoother, faster startup and growth, given Axiom’s experience, transferable infrastructure and growing marketplace presence.

Other more concrete ideas that came up: a book about the generative journalism history and practice, a generative journalism institute and a global conference to build connections and amplify the practice.

Do you see how the future can feel so expansive at this time?

Thanks to Griet for reaching out and moving this global conversation forward.

I know we’re in for quite the ride.

Feel free to comment below, or e-mail michelle(at)axiomnews.ca.