"Rather than guessing what resonates with readers," writes Steve Baragona, "the platform provides real-time analytics that help editors and reporters understand their audience and adjust coverage accordingly — turning hunches into actionable intelligence." Via @newsmediahelpdesk.org

Innovation in Focus' Ishrat Madiha recently spoke with Jenna Spinelle and Brandon Stover, who created a curated list of podcast episodes educators could use in their classrooms. Here's their advice to educators who struggle with adding podcasts into their curriculums.

Collecting first-party data doesn't have to be boring. Read about how Admiral helped Golf.com collect user data in a way that readers actually enjoy.

Asking key questions when evaluating studies can help improve the quality of reporting about research, writes Susan Stellin, MPH. Here are seven questions to consider when interpreting research about drugs and addiction: rjionline.org/news/evaluat....

RJI and the @localnewsimpact.bsky.social Consortium today launched "Commissioning a Local News Ecosystem Assessment: An Operational Toolkit," a resource to streamline research into the forces and players that shape local news.

Measuring impact is crucial for nonprofit newsrooms to secure funding and demonstrate how their work effects change. Here are four strategies for measuring community impact. By RJI Fellows Nicole Lewis and Lam Thuy Vo. Read on: rjionline.org/news/when-it....

Are you facing more resistance when seeking comment? RJI and SmithGeiger Group are conducting a national study to understand how growing hostility and strategic silence are reshaping journalism and how newsrooms can respond more effectively.

"Because the core values of news professionals and Big Tech oligarchs are so different, you might expect news organizations to stand up against Big Tech at the state legislature," writes Don Marti. "You’d be wrong."

Last chance: Come ask questions about the 2026-27 RJI Professional Innovation Fellowships on Jan. 29. Applications close on Feb. 6, 2026. Register now: umsystem.zoom.us/webinar/regi....

The grant will allow VERDAD to add support for additional languages such as Arabic, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese, making the tool a more comprehensive monitor of non-English radio broadcasts. It will also fund features that enhance usability for journalists and enable real-time fact checking.

No matter the sort of newsroom you’re building, here are seven startup mistakes and how to avoid them. Hint: There's no such thing as the perfect workplace.

A study of 135 US weekly newspaper leaders found that charging for obits is a common practice, but the revenue typically provides only a marginal contribution to overall income. While 88% of surveyed weekly newspapers charge a fee, 80% reported that this accounts for less than 5% of total revenue.

The era of "no comment" is evolving from a simple refusal into a potential manipulative strategy. To understand how this shift impacts journalistic credibility and public perception, RJI and SmithGeiger today launched a landmark national survey.

Which types of projects are you interested in reading about or partnering on next? Here are two ways to let us know: (1) Join us for our next Community Call on Tuesday, Jan. 21: bit.ly/IIF-January. (2) Complete our online survey: bit.ly/IIF-survey26. Thank you for your time and feedback.

Luz is a free chatbot that helps journalists develop solutions journalism ideas in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Built by RJI and @elcolectivo506.bsky.social, Luz also connects journalists with resources for further learning about solutions journalism. Read on: rjionline.org/news/introdu....

Pictures of the Year entry deadline extended to Jan. 18. Learn more and submit entries: poy.org. #Photojournalism #Photography

RJI Fellow Cara Kuhlman is building a digital guidebook to help newsrooms engage in walking tours as a medium for local journalism. She toured the Big Apple with Augustin Pasquet, CEO of Untapped New York, to learn more about Untapped's tour operations. Read on: rjionline.org/news/a-light...

Luz is a free and publicly available chatbot that helps journalists develop solutions journalism ideas in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Built by RJI and @elcolectivo506.bsky.social, Luz also connects journalists with resources for further learning about solutions journalism.

New today: Here’s how The Post and Courier (@postandcourier.bsky.social) used sophisticated first-party data tools to support its statewide journalism mission — and what your organization can learn from their approach.

"With billions of dollars spent annually on treatment for substance use disorders in the U.S., there’s a lot of opportunity for reporting on the services people receive, and whether this spending ultimately helps them achieve their goals," writes RJI Fellow Susan Stellin.

ICYMI: @rjionline.bsky.social and Local News Impact Consortium are launching a toolkit designed to help funders, civic leaders and newsroom leaders move through the ecosystem assessment process with more confidence and fewer surprises.

Reporting projects can directly combat the hopelessness caused by violence by bringing communities into the reporting process. The Marshall Project used alternative story forms to connect with people at the center of the story. RJI Fellows Nicole Lewis and Lam Thuy Vo explain how.

Effective collaboration in creative practices, such as photojournalism and storytelling, must be built on a foundation of shared decision-making and transparency regarding the project's boundaries, processes, time and location. rjionline.org/news/partici...

Interested in applying for an RJI Professional Innovation Fellowship? Still have questions? Join us for a Q&A info session on Thursday, Jan. 8, on Zoom. Register now: umsystem.zoom.us/webinar/regi....

The @newsmediahelpdesk.org is a one-stop shop for local media organizations to get digital help. Visit the Help Desk online: www.newsmediahelpdesk.org. Sign up for the Help Desk's monthly newsletter: mailchi.mp/newsmediahel....

Mikel Lauber has used the four-day work week as a tool to increase job satisfaction while boosting productivity and decreasing OT use. Read on: https://rjionline.org/news/the-four-day-newsroom-how-a-bold-schedule-shift-could-ease-burnout-and-boost-retention/.

For Rust Communications, the use of an AI-powered CMS means an increase in online traffic and digital-only subscriptions for its rural newspapers. Read more: https://rjionline.org/news/a-leap-forward-for-ai-in-journalism-is-coming-from-an-unexpected-place-small-town-missouri/.

Is your community not engaging with news? Try listening to them first. In August, Nicolás Ríos discussed how Documented uses a circular journalism model focusing on the needs of its communities. More: https://rjionline.org/news/is-your-community-not-engaging-with-news-try-listening-to-them-first/. 

In May, Innovation in Focus Editor Emily Lytle reported on how two-week fundraising experiments can help newsrooms test strategies for increasing revenue and serving audiences. Read more: https://rjionline.org/news/four-ways-to-break-down-large-revenue-goals-into-short-term-experiments/.

In August, RJI Fellow Monica Williams discussed the free tools she’s building that help both independent journalists and newsrooms locate and apply for grants. Read more: https://rjionline.org/news/how-to-find-grant-money-for-your-next-local-reporting-project/. 

Highlighting RJI’s most-read stories of 2025: Why journalists need a theory of change. In July, RJI Fellows Nicole Lewis and Lam Vo wrote on how a simple framework can help journalists decide how to put limited resources to use. Read more: rjionline.org/news/why-jou....

Highlighting RJI’s most read stories of 2025: Taking public meeting notes to TikTok — and making it actionable. Read more about how TikTok can bring civic information to audiences: https://rjionline.org/news/taking-public-meeting-notes-to-tiktok-and-making-it-actionable/. 

From data sonification and the Science Reporting Navigator to the Potter Digital Ambassadors and the News Media Help Desk, this is the year in review.

Revenue strategies. Tools we tried — and liked. Community engagement ideas. Which ones could work in your newsroom next year? /

"What the common pilot needs to understand is there are inherent risks associated with operating in proximity of drone light shows," writes Dominick Lee. "There should be a proper approach to flying safely so that everyone can enjoy the show while avoiding a potential catastrophe."

With Press Forward funding, The SHOUT is pioneering stand-alone arts coverage in Wichita, Kansas. RJI Fellow @rjritzel.bsky.social spoke with co-founders Emily Christensen and Teri Mott. rjionline.org/news/in-the-...

The inaugural Rural Revenue Transformation Workshop will be held April 12-15, 2026, at RJI. The event is for news, information and community leaders who are located in and serve rural, low-income and geographically dispersed communities. Learn more and apply: rjionline.org/rural-revenu....

@amediaoperator.com speaks with @damon.kiesow.net, Knight Chair in Journalism Innovation, about the newest professional discipline in the news industry. Kiesow "literally wrote the book on news product management," writes Bron Maher. #MissouriMethod #MizzouMade

"What’s in between forcing people into treatment and waiting for them to choose to get help for a drug or alcohol problem — both of which have many downsides?" asks RJI Fellow Susan Stellin. rjionline.org/news/resisti...

"Ecosystem assessments are genuinely valuable. They help you understand who’s producing news in your community, what gaps exist, where collaboration opportunities lie, and how to deploy resources strategically. When done well, they can kickstart transformative work."

How does Jake Hylton raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and make Lookout Publications a model for fundraising success among others in the industry?

When making decisions in a news organization, it can be better to ditch consensus and focus more on consent. RJI Fellow Tara Francis Chan offers journalists five different decision-making approaches that news organizations can adopt to help make better choices and move projects forward.

The News Media Help Desk is a centralized hub to provide local newsrooms with access to essential resources, expert assistance and fractional services, all with the goal of local newsroom sustainability in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Learn more: rjionline.org/news/introdu....

The same internet that gives rise to dystopian narratives has the tools to beat Big Tech’s economic takeover. The internet may pose challenges that threaten journalism and advertising, but Don Marti believes that this technology can reduce existential threats to fixable problems.

Five Questions with Se Habla Media: RJI Fellow Claudia Yaujar-Amaro spoke with Jaime Méndez and Diana Oliveros Martinez, who discuss their editorial approach, how they fight misinformation and how they balance difficult news with stories of resilience and hope. Read: rjionline.org/news/service....

RJI Product Director Leah Becerra is excited to announce that News Media Help Desk will launch on Dec. 10. The Help Desk addresses the digital needs of local media news outlets as they work to stay sustainable. Sign up for their monthly newsletter list here: mailchi.mp/newsmediahel....

Seven aftercare practices shared by photographers and visual journalists

RJI Fellows Nicole Lewis and Lam Vo are using a needs assessment and theory of change to inform and empower the Vietnamese community in the U.S. about misinformation.

Journalists-turned-tour-guides can benefit from learning how their tours are, and are not, like tourism and live events. RJI Fellow Cara Kuhlman breaks down how the audiences, content and outcomes for journalism-focused tours crosses paths with these two industries. rjionline.org/news/how-sha...

RJI Professional Innovation Fellowship applications are now open. RJI Fellows build, test and launch a practical and innovative resource for journalists and community-centered news organizations. Applications close Feb. 6, 2026. Learn more: rjionline.org/about-rji-fe...