Welcome to the Local Fix. Each week we look at key debates in journalism sustainability and community engagement through the lens of local news.  But first, we always begin with one good idea...

One Good Idea: Collaborating in Ohio
Over 30 news organizations in Ohio are collaborating to cover the opioid epidemic in a new way. Journalists are participating in community conversations that will help set the agenda for the work. They’re also sharing data, articles, video and other reporting resources with each other. This intro video explains it to the community. (warning- it autoplays). It’s exciting and important to see these new types of collaborations dedicated to cover vital topics like this one.

The Philanthropy Black Box

When we talk to communities we are often reminded that journalism can feel like a black box to many people, and it is hard to understand the industry from outside of it. When we talk to journalists we are often reminded that the same is true with philanthropy. How do foundations work? How do they make decisions? What do they prioritize? And what impact does that have on newsrooms and communities? The series of articles below ask some tough questions for people working in foundations, and put forward a number of ideas about how philanthropy can be better partners with their grantees and each other. Listening to these critiques is really important for those of us who work in philanthropy, even when we may disagree with them. The questions we here at Democracy Fund have been asking – about how a national funder can support local news authentically, equitably and ethically – are outlined in the first link at the top of this list. What questions have you been asking about philanthropy and news?

• How Local-National Funding Partnerships Can Strengthen Local News – Democracy Fund 
• What are the challenges and opportunities of philanthropic journalism funding in the UK? – Journalism.co.uk  
• Are nonprofit news sites just creating more content for elites who already read a lot of news? – Nieman Lab 
• Money follows money in nonprofit journalism – Chris Faraone 
• Funders’ role in protecting marginalized communities during the next four years – Nonprofit With Balls 

How To Pitch

The section above goes into some bigger picture questions about philanthropy and communities. We also hear the question how do I pitch my work, a lot. The resources here share tips on pitching from different lenses – stories to outlets, startups to investors, and ideas to funders. They all have a few things in common, though. Know your audience. Do your research. No often means, no, not right now, not no forever. Follow the guidelines. Make people excited for the possibilities. Balance persistence with respecting people’s space and time. And you’re not alone – lots of other people are trying to figure this out with you.

• How (Not) to Pitch – A guide for freelance writers. – The Atlantic 
• A Freelance Writer’s Life: The Art of the Pitch – Paste 
• How to pitch story ideas: tips from journalists – IJNet 
• 30 Legendary Startup Pitch Decks And What You Can Learn From Them – Pikto Chart 
• Unlocking the Secrets to Foundation Funding – Local News Lab

How They Did It

We don’t have to tell you that reporting is a lot of work, most of it completely unseen by the public. When teams behind big stories and pieces break down the steps it took to get to the final result, it can be educational for all of us. It can also make apparent how important and hard journalism is. These pieces outline how The New York Times’ Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey took on the Harvey Weinstein investigation, the messages Farah Stockman shared with a factory worker to gain her trust, the tools the NY Times used to map the Las Vegas shooting, and how ProPublica uses callouts. Read, learn, and consider sharing your own ‘how you did it’ someday.

• How These Two Women Finally Exposed Harvey Weinstein  – Marie Claire
• Finding My Rosie the Riveter – NY Times
• How the New York Times mapped how the Las Vegas shooting unfolded – Malachy Brown 
• How They Did It: ProPublica’s Engagement Journalism– GIJN 

Have a good weekend,

Josh and Teresa
@jcstearns, @gteresa

The Local Fix is a project of the Democracy Fund’s Public Square Program, which invests in innovations and institutions that are reinventing local media and expanding the public square. Disclosure: Some projects mentioned in this newsletter may be funded by Democracy Fund, you can find a full list of the organizations we support on our website.