The future — and present — of journalism is collaborative, not competitive. RJI Fellow Monica Williams believes journalists working together, rather than against each other, may be the key for sustainability of public media. Read more about collaboration in news and fundraising.

1/2 For newsrooms building user-friendly resource directories, utilizing online tools makes scraping websites and inputting info a more efficient process. This was the goal of The Haitian Times as it creates a directory of Haitian organizations across the U.S. to connect Haitian community members.

"Saving the news business is harder than it looks, because the news crisis is part of a bigger trust crisis," write Don Marti. "But on the other hand, the bigger crisis means that news organizations are an indispensable ally for many other players."

At @outliermedia.org, Sarah Alvarez learned that making an impact for low-income Detroiters meant reporting on complex problems and not letting up. Nicole Lewis and Lam Vo spoke with Alvarez about how journalists can approach impact-driven coverage of seemingly intractable social & economic issues.

Three takeaways from Cara Kuhlman's second year of Future Tide's free walking tours: minimalist marketing, a new tip jar and more participants. Kuhlman had three key goals for the 2025 tours. Did she reach them?

inewsource used interactive mapping to highlight community assets and identify potential partners for events and trainings. Here's how. rjionline.org/news/going-b...

Jared Schroeder writes about a new RJI resource that tracks state-level legislation aimed at reversing the decline of local journalism. "The efforts, particularly to those who are concerned about government interventions into journalistic independence, are surprisingly innovative."

Nonprofit @trustingnews.bsky.social offers guidance on ethical AI use, disclosure policies and community engagement to strengthen public confidence. Trusting News was incubated as a project at RJI in 2016. Via Editor & Publisher. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/ai-t...

For my project @rjionline.bsky.social project, I am doing a roll call for local arts news outlets. So places like @racketmn.com, @bmoreart.bsky.social rt.bsky.social, @theshout.shoutwichita.com.ap.brid.gy (And others not on Blue Sky.) Can anyone help add to the list? 🙏

RJI Innovation in Focus' Taylor Bowman sat down with Kait Guild and Michael Lawler from Mobile Health Map to learn how their work tracking local health resources to identify community issues can help journalists build trust and relationships with their audiences. rjionline.org/news/how-com...

Two @mujschool.bsky.social students — Taylor Bowman and Ishrat Madiha — are working with organizations across the U.S. to implement new strategies and techniques in journalism. Both are student staffers with RJI Innovation in Focus. rjionline.org/news/rji-inn...

(1/1) Applications close Nov. 7 for news orgs wishing to participate in 2026 RJI Student Innovation Fellowships. RJI's Emily Lytle (photo 1) conducted a Q&A yesterday at RJI for @mujschool.bsky.social students who are interested in applying for next summer. Their deadline is also Nov. 7.

Journalists on any beat: Do you want to confidently incorporate scientific evidence, perspectives, or context into your reporting? Join @theopennotebook.bsky.social and @rjionline.bsky.social for a webinar introducing the Science Reporting Navigator Thurs, Oct 23 at 2pm CT! bit.ly/NavigatorLaunch.

The next Community Conversation explores RJI's partnership with @elcolectivo506.bsky.social to build a solutions journalism pitchbot. Learn about the project, sign up to be a beta tester and ask questions. Register: umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/regi....

"More states are proposing advertising set-aside bills because they offer a quick fix. They do not seek new funding but redirect dollars governments already spend. ..." rjionline.org/news/ad-doll...

The 2026 competition's focus: news influencers. Learn more and enter: rjionline.org/studentinnov....

RJI Fellow Monica Williams speaks with Planet Detroit founder Nina Ignaczak, who shares lessons from her six-year journey of building a nonprofit newsroom. rjionline.org/news/establi...

As the Reynolds Chair in Journalism Strategy and Business Operations at @mujschool.bsky.social, Karen Brophy will also partner with RJI to experiment with tools and strategies for the benefit of both the J-School's Missouri News Network and the wider industry. journalism.missouri.edu/2025/10/kare...

The 2024-2025 RJI Fellows are helping journalists and newsrooms implement new tools to meet vital challenges and gaps in the news industry. Check out their new resources and learn how to apply them in your newsroom. rjionline.org/news/how-the...

RJI and El Colectivo 506 are building a new bilingual solutions journalism tool. Here's how it'll be a boost for journalists seeking to develop solutions stories. rjionline.org/news/were-bu...

RJI Fellow @rjritzel.bsky.social meets with @mujschool.bsky.social students Kat Ramkumar and Kayla Sydnor to discuss her Arts Journalism Initiative on Oct. 7 in Columbia, Mo. The students are creating a database of arts agency grants that support journalists. More: rjionline.org/person/rebec....

"Newsrooms should think big when it comes to tours, but start small and leverage product thinking," writes RJI Fellow Cara Kuhlman. "Separate ideation from execution, to give them both the time they deserve." rjionline.org/news/think-b...

RJI has launched Public Policy and Journalism, the home of state-by-state resources that deepen public understanding of how statehouses are working — or not working — to support journalists and community journalism. rjionline.org/news/introdu...

2022-2023 RJI Fellow @ryanrestivo.bsky.social is adding three new paid features to his YESEO app that will "elevate the capabilities of YESEO" to help newsrooms understand their audience. Sign up to be one of 10 newsrooms that gets to test them for free. rjionline.org/news/yeseo-l...

RJI Fellows Nicole Lewis and Lam Vo speak with Alli Finn, senior partnerships and strategy lead at the @ainowinstitute.bsky.social, who collaborates with and supports communities and organizations that are facing harm from AI systems and push for alternatives. rjionline.org/news/how-to-...

Covering the drug supply? Here’s how to educate readers, listeners and viewers about drugs, risks and their effects — without the use of zombie metaphors. rjionline.org/news/coverin...

While most staff-run newsrooms have operated that way since day one, @coloradosun.com is one of the few to have transitioned after establishing itself as a for-profit, and with a significant team. Here's how The Sun made the transition. rjionline.org/news/how-col...

"When done thoughtfully and collaboratively, the magic of ‘anonymous’ portraiture is that it invites viewers to engage with the emotional resonance of the narrative without the need for literal representation of the individual or the trauma." rjionline.org/news/anonymo...

The Science Reporting Navigator is designed to help reporters integrate science content, interviews and data into any beat. See the Navigator in action: Attend the demo webinar on Oct. 23. rjionline.org/news/introdu...

The Report Like an Anthropologist workshop will be held at 1 p.m. CT Oct. 14 and Oct. 21 via Zoom. Small newsrooms can do big things. You just need the right tools. Register today: lnkd.in/gNUfBvnj.

"What does it mean for a community when a news outlet pulls back on its opinion content?” journalism.missouri.edu/2025/09/shut...

Countdown clock. Microgiving. Shared proceeds with Hawaiʻi Public Radio and PBS Hawai'i. What fundraising experiment will @civilbeat.bsky.social try next? rjionline.org/news/creativ...

RJI Fellow rjritzel.bsky.social was Thursday's guest in @mujschool.bsky.social's Principles of Journalism in Democracy class. Assoc Prof Joy Jenkins conducted a Q&A with Ritzel, exploring the RJI Fellow’s arts journalism career and her fellowship. Ritzel's project: rjionline.org/person/rebec....

RJI Fellow Rebecca Ritzel was Thursday's guest in @mujschool.bsky.social's Principles of Journalism in Democracy class. Associate Professor Joy Jenkins conducted a Q&A with Ritzel, exploring the RJI Fellow’s career and her RJI residential fellowship. Ritzel's project: rjionline.org/person/rebec....

Two public radio stations — @kbianews.bsky.social in Missouri and @kansaspublicradio.bsky.social in Kansas — embraced their schools' longtime collegiate rivalry and created a friendly competition to engage new donors. Here's how they raised awareness and funds. rjionline.org/news/radio-r...

Small newsrooms can do big things, they just need the right tools: participatory observation, ethnographic interviews and semiotic mapping. Learn to work like an anthropologist by participating in RJI's Report Like an Anthropologist virtual workshop. rjionline.org/news/report-...

AskRJI is an AI chatbot that allows users to gather info and resources related to community journalism from all over RJI’s website. It's part of RJI’s effort to test and iterate on AI applications that can help community news orgs better engage their audiences. rjionline.org/news/introdu...

Nicolás Ríos: How our bridge role works: Immigrant communities to decision makers. @documentedny.bsky.social rjionline.org/news/the-bri...

RJI is accepting entries for the 2026 RJI Student Innovation Competition until Oct. 17, 2025. Questions about the process, applications or competition in general? Join the Innovation Team's monthly community conversation at 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 15: umsystem.zoom.us/webinar/regi....

RJI Fellow Claudia Amaro speaks with Roxana Bendezú, founder and executive director of Migrant Roots Media. rjionline.org/news/rooted-...

"The lack of listings is destructive on a community level, and it’s also economically destructive." rjionline.org/news/saving-...

Researchers are developing more nuanced tools to help newsrooms understand their audiences. rjionline.org/news/naming-...

Walking tours: Is your news organization ready to take the first step in conducting one? Here are four factors to consider: geography, content, audience, staff and audience. Cara Kuhlman explains. rjionline.org/news/taking-...

"I define nontraditional newsrooms as companies that provide journalists the ability to make critical business decisions," writes RJI Fellow Tara Francis Chan. "They are, essentially, democratic news organizations." Here are three types of nontraditional newsrooms. rjionline.org/news/what-is...

“Substance use disorder” and “addiction” are not interchangeable. RJI Fellow Susan Stellin explains why. ➡️ rjionline.org/news/underst...

Join @marinawg.bsky.social (@pulitzercenter.org), @annieisi.bsky.social (@nationalpress.bsky.social), Monica Williams (@rjionline.bsky.social), and @ecwilliams.bsky.social (@npcinstitute.bsky.social) for a conversation on how to position yourself to win grants and fellowships. 👉 bit.ly/41sOnY9

"What if we worked towards specific impact in the world instead of hoping that something good will come from our reporting?" rjionline.org/news/should-...

RJI Student Innovation Fellow Kalyn Laire worked with Epicenter NYC to build a vertical video guide. Here's what makes the guide work. rjionline.org/news/how-we-...

RJI is building a centralized content-sharing platform for newsrooms. Climate News Task Force partners helped gather input for the needs assessment phase of the project. Armed with priorities and suggestions, RJI's next step: look for a developer. rjionline.org/news/buildin...

RJI Student Innovation Fellow Sophia Anderson spent the summer at WWNO in New Orleans. Her goal was to create a toolkit for WWNO reporters to simplify the process of creating data visualizations. Done and check. Here are her key takeaways from the project. rjionline.org/news/trainin...