Julio Ricardo Varela’s Post

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

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

🏝 Have you heard of "news deserts"? More than 20 percent of the nation lives in a community with little coverage of local politics, news, and events. ➡ A group of 22 foundations is investing more than half a billion dollars in local journalism over the next five years. 🗞 We need so much investment to rebuild journalism — and the public's trust in it — in the wake of media consolidation and right-wing disinformation. Democracy depends on it. #localjournalism #servicejournalism #mediaconsolidation #newsmedia #philanthropy

We have a great opportunity to increase the value of local news and build a sustainable future for local news at the same time. Local small businesses and local media can work together to create that future. "It’s time for local media and local small businesses to reconnect in mutual reliance," says Jim Haigh. "The most important local news funding still remains local advertisers, local sponsors, and local supporters." That means local news has to make sure it is serving local communities in an effective way. How often has a local news reporter covered a long, boring city meeting and then had to write a story on that long, boring city meeting? The boring recap gets no love, while the new restaurant opening in town is the top story. Now consider how we could use local journalism to boost civic engagement, inform and engage communities, and ensure all communities see their needs, concerns, and dreams reflected in the public square. El Tímpano is a civic media outlet based in Oakland, California, that serves the Bay Area’s Latino and Mayan immigrants. They work in collaboration with residents and local partners to create two-way channels of reporting that empower Oakland’s Spanish-speaking residents. Through innovative approaches to community outreach, El Tímpano surfaces community members’ stories and questions on local and national issues, provides news and information relevant to their needs, and investigates the concerns they bring to their attention. El Tímpano — Spanish for "eardrum" — was founded by Madeleine Bair in 2017 and used a civic partnership model to fuel its growth. El Tímpano isn't just surviving. This outlet serving low-income immigrants with actionable news and information is thriving, and they have become a case study for equity in news and journalism sustainability. This is the future of sustainable local news. It is collaborative and independent. Read more in the latest edition of The Community Builder, our weekly newsletter that spotlights solutions to revitalize local news and celebrates who is creating them. https://lnkd.in/gk7pDUGb Subscribe to The Community Builder: https://lnkd.in/gDSNPgE8 #journalism #localnews #sustainability #community #growth

“The challenges and threats facing our Democracy can seem so enormous and systemic that you might think one person, one article, or one vote couldn’t possibly make a difference. But the biggest threat of all is giving in and believing all is already lost.” My column for #DemocracyDay2023 and why supporting independent, nonpartisan & nonprofit journalism is so vital:

C&B News Joins The Scottish Beacon by Paul Fisher Cockburn, editor of C&B News Eighteen independent local and hyperlocal news publications – including C&B News – have come together to create The Scottish Beacon, a new national online publication. The Scottish Beacon website is the first collaborative journalism outlet of its kind in the country, and aims to strengthen the independent community-based media sector, bringing stories from Scotland’s communities to a wider audience. The website will republish articles on topics including community empowerment, social equality, local democracy and the environment‚ from Shetland in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south. The publications currently involved – some are print only, others digital, many both – are all independently-owned and produce original journalism in the public interest, firmly rooted in serving the communities in which they are based. The new site is regulated by IMPRESS (Independent Monitor for the Press). Other publications involved in the project include: The Bellman (Stonehaven), Broughton Spurtle (Edinburgh), Clydesider, Crail Matters (Fife), The Edinburgh Reporter, Forres Local, The Ileach (Islay/Jura), Glenkens Gazette (Galloway), Greater Govanhill (Glasgow), The Hawick Paper (Scottish Borders), Inverclyde Now, The Lochside Press (Rosneath Peninsula/Helensburgh), Midlothian View, Migrant Women Press (Glasgow), The Orkney News, and Shetland News. It is hoped that more will join in the future. The Scottish Beacon network holds regular meetings, sharing resources, skills and working together to identify collaborative investigations. The aim is to re-invigorate local public interest news and overcome common challenges such as long-term sustainability. Rhiannon J Davies, founder of Greater Govanhill community magazine and The Scottish Beacon project, explained: “I truly believe that the future of journalism is collaborative. I developed the idea for this project after being inspired by similar established collaboratives in the US. There are some brilliant community-based publications in Scotland—I’m really excited to see what we can do together.” You can sign up to The Scottish Beacon newsletter, or become a member, at: https://lnkd.in/esGY8-mE For more information, visit www.scottishbeacon.com, and follow the project on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

“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

🗞️🌟 Embrace the Power of Local Journalism! 🌴📰 Did you know that right here in South Florida, we have a gem that not only brings us news but also represents the voice of our community? 🙌 Let's talk about the Westside Gazette, a Black-owned newspaper that serves as a vital source of information and empowerment. 💼 Supporting local businesses extends beyond shops and restaurants—it includes supporting media outlets like the Westside Gazette. Here's why: 1. Authentic Representation: The Westside Gazette amplifies the voices and stories of the Black community in South Florida, offering a perspective often overlooked by mainstream media. By supporting it, we contribute to a more inclusive and diverse media landscape. 2. Community Connection: Local newspapers like the Westside Gazette foster a sense of community by highlighting local events, businesses, and achievements. They keep us informed about what's happening in our neighborhoods and provide a platform for community dialogue and engagement. 3. Empowerment Through Information: Access to reliable news and information is crucial for an empowered community. The Westside Gazette provides valuable coverage of local news, politics, culture, and social issues, empowering readers with knowledge and awareness. 4. Economic Support: By subscribing to or advertising in the Westside Gazette, we directly support the economic growth and sustainability of a Black-owned business in our community. Our support helps create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and contribute to the local economy. 5. Preservation of Heritage: Newspapers like the Westside Gazette play a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage and history of the Black community. By supporting it, we ensure that these stories are preserved and passed down to future generations. Let's rally together to support the Westside Gazette and other local Black-owned businesses in South Florida. Subscribe, advertise, and spread the word—it's not just about reading the news; it's about investing in our community's future! 🌟🗞️ #SupportLocal #WestsideGazette #CommunityEmpowerment #sofloblackpages

Julian Assange live news: WikiLeaks founder heads to Australia as US ambassador Caroline Kennedy declares 'longstanding and difficult' case closed - The Guardian In a surprising turn of events, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to return to his homeland of Australia. US ambassador Caroline Kennedy has officially announced that the 'longstanding and difficult' case against Assange has been closed. This marks a significant milestone in the decade-long saga that has captivated the world. Stay tuned for more updates as we follow this developing story. #JulianAssange #WikiLeaks #BreakingNews #Australia #Justice

This Was the 1st Global WikiAdvocacy Meeting in Santiago, Chile In May, Wikimedia Chile hosted the first WikiAdvocacy Meeting, an event where representatives from more than 20 countries, including members of the Wikimedia movement and Latin American civil society activists, gathered to concretely discuss and work on how to exchange experiences regarding the main challenges of promoting free knowledge within the digital environments; identify global trends in Internet governance that could affect the sustainability of the Wikimedia model; and pave the way for strengthening a network of Wikimedians and activists involved in advocacy and in defending free knowledge in decision-making spaces, with an emphasis on the inclusion of the Global South. The initial results of the meeting and how we plan to continue strengthening the Wikimedia voice in the public sphere are detailed in this Diff note prepared by Michelle Martínez Collipal 👇 https://lnkd.in/eQvJaspx