June 20, 2018
How we know journalism is good for democracy
Updated September 2022: This research review has become a critical guide for funders, policymakers, communities, and journalists who care about creating a healthier democracy.
The Local News Lab has been archived as of March 1, 2023. This page will remain online but will not be updated. More info.
The latest from the Lab.
Read our newest posts, or filter them by topic.
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May 23, 2023
What we learned from almost 10 years of the Local News Lab: Transformative grantmaking means letting go
We wanted to make visible what is possible when a funder trusts its partners, and gives them the freedom to dream and, importantly, the resources to act.
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January 19, 2022
Meet the Ecosystem Builders: A unique group of leaders transforming local news
They are the “green shoots” of news ecosystems, willing to experiment in new projects or help introduce collaboration and new ways of working to legacy organizations.
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June 7, 2021
How to listen during a pandemic and other lessons from recent local news ecosystem research
Central to all of these lessons is the understanding that research itself can be an investment in a community.
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December 16, 2020
Why I’m hopeful about local news in 2021
It’s time to put our hope, our dollars, and our support behind the people and solutions that were there all along. It is time to listen.
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December 7, 2020
Courtney Hurtt is building a better future for nonprofit newsrooms via NewsMatch. Here’s how.
"I love the opportunity to see at scale how they’re answering the question of 'How do I sustain my organization?'"…
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October 28, 2020
How 6 Alaska newsrooms facing major budget cuts built a fundraising campaign together
A young bald eagle flies over Kachemak Bay in southern Alaska. Photo by Andy Morffew used under Creative Commons. Editors’ Note: This is part of an occasional series highlighting…
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October 1, 2020
Building with community: How The Triibe grew into its ecosystem
"To us it's more than a journalism site or news site. It's a community."…
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August 21, 2020
Community starts with listening: How Santa Cruz Local gained 500 paying members in one year
“The more people feel heard, the more they value our work.”…
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July 1, 2020
Why Diana Alba-Soular is working on the wellbeing of New Mexico journalism
"Journalists are glad there is somebody on their side when there are so many people trying to tear down journalists or can’t understand the situations that they’re going through."…