Hi Folks -

This is a copy of an email I sent Jimmy earlier today. I love it if you could give me a read as to whether his schedule would even permit his accepting this invitation:

Hi Jimmy -

I enjoyed sitting next to you at the Harvard blogging conference. I'm circling back to see if I could woo you to be the keynote speaker at this year's Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism Symposium (http://www.j-lab.org/batten.html)?

My Advisory Board just finished meeting and selecting this year's award winners and you were the favorite recommendation for a keynoter.

The date is Monday, Sept. 12. The event is at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The keynote address is given at a luncheon of about 80-100 people -- many of whom will be D.C. journalists, not always known for innovation. And probably only distantly aware of wikis.

With Wiki launching a news site, the LA Times experimenting on its editorial page, the robust give-and-take on the Harvard listserv, and your own experience of having journalism "done" to you, you'd have a lot of insights to offer. The winners of this years award's will be announced at the symposium as well.

J-Lab could cover your travel and lodging costs -- with a grant from the Knight Foundation that supports the awards.

I've admired your work for a long time and I'd love to have you if it would fit into your schedule.

Best, Jan