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: Track Your Sources
The Atlantic’s Ed Yong spent two years trying to fix the gender imbalance in his stories, and recently shared how he did it. Yong’s dedication and detail is refreshing, and something anyone can learn from. He emphasizes the importance of tracking everything in a simple spreadsheet, including who you reach out to for stories. More tips and links on how to do the same here. 

Local News Is Kind of a Big Deal

Another week, another list of some great things happening in local news. We were thrilled this week to take the wraps off of two new funds for local journalism. Working with local funders in NJ and NC we have contributed $2 million to kick off the funds. The Knight Foundation announced a new effort around innovation, investigative journalism, and diversity in local TV news. Matter.VC is offer free bootcamps for local newsrooms, and former DNAinfo staff in Chicago raised more than $100,000 in 48 hours to launch a new local reporting project.  

• Local people will create the future of local news: Democracy Fund establishes two new local funds dedication to investing in the sustainability of local news – Local News Lab
• Local TV news gets a $2.6 million boost from the Knight Foundation – NiemanLab
• Open Matter: Local News Bootcamps with Matter.VC, Google News Lab, News Media Alliance, and 4 Top J. schools. – Matter.VC
• DNAinfo Chicago will be reborn as Block Club Chicago, relying on blockchain and subscriptions instead of billionaires – NiemanLab 

Reporting on Elections

The 2018 midterms are closer than you think. We have compiled a few resources below about how you can use collaboration and community engagement to lift up the voice of the public in your reporting about the 2018 election. In addition, we wanted to highlight Electionline.org which is the nation’s leading resource for election administration news and information. It recently joined the Local News Lab as part of Democracy Fund.

• How to launch Voting Block – a collaborative reporting project – for your 2018 state or local election – Center for Cooperative Media
• Electionland: The Inside Story – A case study about the national Electionland collaborative reporting project – ProPublica and Google News Lab
• Electionline.org becomes a Democracy Fund Project – Democracy Fund 

Valentines for Journalists

Forget the flowers, how about using Valentine’s Day to share some appreciation for your favorite journalists and people working in local news? Here are a few ideas, including a fourth grade class’ note to the Washington Post newsroom last year, along with some journo-themed Valentines from the dearly departed 10,000 Words blog, and podcast-themed ones from AIR. We appreciate you, readers, and hope you get as much candy as you want next week.

• A Valentine from 4th Graders to the Washington Post 
• Spread the love: #Pubmedia valentines 2017 – AIR 
• Valentines for Journalists – Mark S. Luckie 
• With Love from NPR – NPR Extra

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.