Signal Ohio’s Post

“Journalism, particularly local, trusted news is the fabric of our democracy.” Our President John Palfrey shares how trusted local news can build community cohesion, foster civic participation, and let the facts speak for themselves. Read more thoughts on building trust and strengthening democracy in his Annual Essay ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eqwtvTsR

A key aspect of community engagement centers on people being able to access information easily and efficiently via local news platforms. Recent research out of Northwestern's State of Local News Project provides a county-by-county snapshot of media outlets across the nation showing how levels of affluence affect access to local journalism. Checked my own experience on this map to see how it tracked — when I worked as a fulltime journalism teacher in uber-affluent Silicon Valley (median 2022 household income, per U.S. census report = ~ $153,000), my immediate surrounding county (Santa Clara county) shows 23 local news outlets. Compare that to my current home of Winnebago County in Illinois (median 2022 household income, per U.S. census report = ~ $61,000): 8 news outlets — primarily broadcast, but also a legacy newspaper a step away from extinction. In the short term, agree that philanthropy may be the necessary stop-gap support required to sustain the "fire line" to slow loss and attrition of local news outlets and help keep local journalism alive, while we collectively figure out a better, sustainable economic model for journalism in years ahead

Michael L. M., Managing Director of The Moynihan Center at CCNY Co-Authors Article on Media Policy for an Informed Citizenry Michael Miller, Managing Director at the Moynihan Center, has co-edited a special issue of the ANNALS entitled "Media Policy for an Informed Citizenry: Revisiting the Information Needs of Communities for Democracy in Crisis." This issue confronts the pressing challenges facing democracy amidst a growing local journalism crisis. Featuring contributions from a diverse array of scholars, policymakers, and activists, the issue explores topics ranging from financial misinformation to racial injustice in media policy, news polarization, and the dissemination of public health information during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through peer-reviewed analysis, it critically examines market failures in local news and proposes policy interventions to address them. This comprehensive edition serves as an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of media policy, democracy, and community well-being. Read the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/eC7zcPzs #missinformation #desinformation #research #communications #MediaLiteracy #Media #Academia

This is worth a full read - down to clicking on every link and diving deep there, too. If you care about community and quality media, it will give you plenty of reasons to be inspired. 👇 - The right mission: "Amid this growth, one thing is certain: it’s vital to build local news organizations that are resilient, sustainable, and can endure through changing market conditions." - The right metric: American Journalism Project portfolio companies grew revenue by more than $86 million (a 36 percent increase year over year) - The right focus - community: The president of a trucking company explains why he's backing a local media startup in his town. Three cheers for progress AND for transparency. At the bottom of the post is a link to ideas you can steal (and in that vein, that link is here: https://lnkd.in/gzt7mzqw). #localnewsmatters #journalism #businessmodel #nonprofitnews

Democracy is under attack in various European countries as the space for civil society diminishes, with governments imposing barriers, vilifying groups, and impeding access to crucial funding. The digital public sphere, essential for democracy, is threatened by disinformation and a decline in media trust, fuelled by technological changes. Enter Civitates , a pooled fund comprising 18 foundations, aimed at beefing up the civil society sector. Initially concentrating on countries witnessing democratic erosion, the initiative swiftly recognised the main role of media capture in this phenomenon, which included frequent attacks against civic space, democracy and the rule of law. Read the full story here! #WorldPressFreedomDay https://bit.ly/3vABhv0

Fascinating presentation by Steven Waldman at the University of Nevada Reynolds School of Journalism Scripps Dinner re: the urgent need to rebuild local news. Since 2011, there are 60% fewer full time reporters in the US, and thousands of publishers have gone out of business, leaving ever widening news deserts in their wake. Today, half of the daily newspaper circulation in America are owned by hedge funds or private equity firms. The dramatic demise of local news outlets has wide-ranging effects on communities: Less civic engagement by residents, leading to more local corruption and increased polarization. Decreases in local investment, and even increased pollution. A combination of policy, philanthropy and innovation are helping to fill the local news void. There's a lot of work that needs to be done...and it's vital to the health and well-being of communities across our fruited plains. For more information, follow Steven Waldman here: https://lnkd.in/dhDWhqzz #journalism #news #localnews #reporting #democracy

I am truly excited to introduce the inaugural Request for Proposals for Press Forward Chicago. Press Forward Chicago, an innovative collaborative grantmaking initiative aimed at bolstering local news and fostering a resilient information ecosystem within our city. Chicago is fortunate to be endowed with a tapestry of media outlets that diligently serve the diverse information needs of our communities. It is important to recognize that while our local news scene is robust, it is also fragile. Even with the current array of media outlets, there exists a fragility that underscores the importance of continued support and investment. Recognizing that an informed community is the bedrock of a vibrant democracy, I've had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed colleagues over the past year and a half to establish a dedicated fund tailored to support local news. This funding opportunity is a direct response to the pressing needs articulated by newsrooms across Chicago. With a clear focus on capacity building, this RFP represents the first of two initiatives slated for release this year as part of Press Forward Chicago. I invite all eligible organizations to carefully review the RFP and consider submitting proposals that align with our overarching mission of empowering local journalism and fortifying our community through equitable access to reliable information. Press Forward Chicago is more than a grantmaking initiative. It is an opportunity to reimagine how philanthropy, journalists, donors, Newsrooms, residents and civic leaders come together and bring our best thinking to building a sustainable future for news and information. #PressForwardChicago #localnews #LocalJournalism #pressforwardlocal #CommunityEmpowerment #rfp

SUPPORT BY CLICKING : https://lnkd.in/dMH6fnx5 Please support us by raising your voice #ourvoiceyourpower In a world where independent journalism is facing unprecedented challenges, our campaign stands as a beacon for the preservation of local media. Why should you care? Because local journalism is the lifeblood of our communities, serving as the watchdogs of truth and accountability. As we witness the decline of local media outlets, we’re losing more than just news coverage – we’re losing our ability to speak with a united voice, to hold power to account, and to maintain the fabric of our democracy. Our campaign aims to shed light on the stark reality of this crisis, compelling you to confront the consequences of a media landscape devoid of local voices. Local media builds culture and underwrites our values, celebrating the invaluable contributions of local journalists and underscoring the importance of diverse representation in the media. It’s not just about reporting the news; it’s about fostering transparency, accountability, and informed civic participation. https://lnkd.in/dMH6fnx5

The UK has come rock bottom of an annual survey looking at trust in the media across 28 different countries, with only 31% of respondents saying they trust the media to "do what is right". This is a shocking indictment of our media landscape. Now, more than ever, we need to rebuild trust by working with communities who have been unheard and ignored to tell the stories they want to tell, in their own words. Our manifesto: https://lnkd.in/eZ5JiZiU https://lnkd.in/ex9nnDg8

In this piece, Josh Stearns makes a great case for why foundations should invest in local journalism. Foundations often have specific areas of giving and may not be accustomed to funding journalism. However, access to high-quality, trusted local information is essential to many of those other funding priorities. "Our democracy depends on a well-informed public. Local journalism — especially new and emerging models — stand as one of the most critical tools to defend democratic values, build trust, and empower communities. For funders committed to advancing equity and the common good, the question is not whether to support local journalism, but how swiftly we can act."