For-profit publishers solicit more grants and donors, while nonprofits look for more earned revenues; DEI-led startups get funding and support 2020 was a very bad year for local businesses in America during the COVID-19 pandemic. By July, more than 420,000 small businesses across the country had closed permanently, according to Stephen Hamilton, an assistant professor […]
Article · December 18, 2020 by Mark Glaser
As legacy media struggled during the pandemic, many nonprofit outlets shone, with NewsMatch as a catalyst for bringing in more donations In the narrative about the struggling local news business in America, we hear mostly about layoffs, pay cuts and even closures of publications this year due to the pandemic. But what we rarely hear […]
Article · December 10, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Initiatives utilizing the Citizens Agenda, reporter training, fighting misinformation made a big difference in a challenging election year for local news Imagine being a local reporter covering elections in 2020. Your news organization is probably struggling to cover the pandemic, racial justice protests, and every local election measure and candidate while also losing ad revenues. […]
Article · November 13, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Foundations, donors around the country step up to support local news in its hour of need In the past few years, there has been a concerted effort to frame local news as a public good, as a new target for philanthropic giving, and as a must-have for every local community that values accurate and timely […]
Article · October 29, 2020 by Mark Glaser
The annual matching campaign helped newsrooms weather the pandemic and make an impact in their communities. While business models for newspapers deteriorate and many local news outlets continue to struggle to cover their communities, the rise of nonprofit news has been astonishing. These outlets have picked up the slack with growing numbers of local reporters […]
Article · October 21, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Even in a downturn, journalists are finding success with paid newsletters, texting, patronage and more In a time of decline for American news, beset by losses due to the pandemic and internal strife from the racial justice reckoning, some online platforms are offering up compensation for journalists who are savvy subject matter experts. Tiny Letter […]
Article · September 3, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Engagement collaborations, texting platforms, community media are trying to reach people in underserved communities where journalists are scarce. Living in San Francisco, I have a lot of news sources to find out how the coronavirus is affecting my community. There’s the main San Francisco Chronicle website and app, which has provided COVID-19 case maps down […]
Article · July 1, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Despite their struggle with shifting business models, there are bright spots in nonprofit news, collaboratives and crucial reporting on the front lines of COVID-19. Although the collapse of local news during the coronavirus pandemic has been the dominant narrative in media circles, with gloomy forecasts for civic engagement and understanding, the Knight Foundation, local funders, […]
Article · June 22, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Outpouring of relief helps local journalists faced with layoffs, pay cuts and who report from the front line These are dark times for society, dark times for the media, and dark times for front-line local news reporters who have suffered pay cuts, layoffs and even deaths due to COVID-19. But the spark of light in […]
Article · May 15, 2020 by Mark Glaser
Publishers focus on sustainability in challenging times, as they push for more fundraising, memberships, grants and government support In the best of times, local news publishers were challenged to shift their business models due to digital disruption and the growing online ad dominance of Google and Facebook. Now, in the worst of times during the […]
Article · May 1, 2020 by Mark Glaser
During the pandemic, local news publishers and journalists have become essential sources of trusted information The horrific spread of the novel coronavirus across America has prompted an outpouring of questions from confused citizens in communities who need answers. What will happen to the most vulnerable among us? Where can I get food? How many hospitalizations […]
Article · April 20, 2020 by Mark Glaser