Even as legacy newsrooms thrash around and try to save the unsalvageable old model all the while cloaking themselves in a false “digital first” strategy, there is all kinds of innovative thinking going on out there. And some of the most innovative — dare I say inspirational — thinkers are women. If you want to be inspired, look at Debbie Galant and Liz George of Baristanet, who have created a community news site that is both important to its community and profitable. Or spend some time listening to Tracy Record talk about the role West Seattle Blog plays in its community — and just as importantly, listen to other journalism entrepreneurs talk about the inspiration they draw from Tracy’s example. If it is accountability journalism that lights you up, then go get inspired by Rita Hibbard at Investigate West, whose passion for investigative reporting led her out of a legacy newsroom and into a role as journalism entrepreneur. If you want to get very smart very fast about technology and community-building, just spend an evening at a dinner table with Lisa Williams of Placeblogger and Susan Mernit of Oakland Local and listen to them talk about how they see community news and technology tools evolving in a million different ways. And if you want an inspiring vision of mission, partnership and collaboration, go hang at out at the St. Louis Beacon and watch editor and founder Margie Freivogel and general manager Nicole Hollway at work.