Fundraising is one of the hardest parts of running a collaborative. Fraser Nelson's Day 2 keynote at #CJS2026 tackles it head-on — how collaborative campaigns can work, even now. May 15, Temple University, Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

new investigation for @starledger.bsky.social, I spoke with several families at the Jersey bayshore over fears contamination is linked to cancer diagnoses. So far: 41 cancer cases. Most are near a town’s old, improperly-capped and heavily-cited dump. h/t @karinpricemueller.bsky.social

Danya Henninger from Technical.ly is bringing a lightning talk to #CJS2026 on how a "creator in residence" helped the outlet reach new audiences. Day 2, May 15 at Temple University in Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

The CJS started in Montclair in 2017. Then came Philly, Chicago, D.C., Detroit, Denver — and now we're back in Philadelphia for year 10. There's something fitting about returning to the city where we first expanded. May 14-15 at Temple. #CJS2026 summit.collaborativejournalism.org

🎙️“I truly believe that this model of collaborative journalism is one of the biggest avenues, not only in terms of impact, but in terms of how journalism can survive.” @laurentrichard.bsky.social - Founder of Forbidden Stories at #IJF26 🗞️🇮🇹

Pennsylvania has the nation’s third-highest number of people serving life without parole sentences. A recent state supreme court ruling could lead to a pathway out of prison for more than 1,000 of these people.

At last... What is it about plastic grass? D'ya hear me Red Bank NJ? Count Basie Field...I've been telling them for years. Environment, groundwater quality, microplastic and petrochemical run-off, injuries are all built in benefits. Have they seen the cloud of stuff kicked up when the kids play? +

Pennsylvania has one of the deepest collaborative journalism networks in the country. A Day 1 session at #CJS2026 explores how Spotlight PA, the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative, Pittsburgh Media Partnership, and Every Voice Every Vote all connect. May 14, Temple University, Philly.

There's a free journalist safety training the morning of #CJS2026 — May 14, 8am–noon at Temple. The IWMF is leading it: risk assessment, digital safety, covering protests, and legal know-your-rights. Registration closes May 4. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

"Another agent fired pepper balls into the crowd, hitting [@propublica.org reporter AC Thompson] three times. One shot struck him above the right eye...One of them shot pepper spray from a car window, hitting FRONTLINE’s director Gabrielle Schonder and Tim Grucza, who was sprayed in the face."

Freelance and contract work in journalism is growing — but without much structure or support behind the workers doing it. Matthew Green and Madison Karas from the Magpie Project are bringing that question to #CJS2026. May 14-15, Temple University, Philly.

One month out. #CJS2026 is May 14-15 at Temple University in Philadelphia — capped at about 150 attendees. If you've been meaning to register, now's the time. Scholarship tickets available — email [email protected]. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

This is fine news for Pittsburgh, but before thinking salvation from high is nigh, know that there aren't enough over-endowed nonprofits to go around. The hard work of reinvention and sustainability remains. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sold to nonprofit media group www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...

Amanda Zamora's opening keynote at #CJS2026 asks what journalism looks like when it treats information as mutual aid — timely, accessible, actionable, meeting people where they are. May 14 at Temple in Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Can't wait to listen to my colleague Stefanie Murray, director of the @centercoopmedia.bsky.social talk about local news in New Jersey on The Brian Lehrer Show www.wnyc.org/story/local-...

Fraser Nelson opens Day 2 of #CJS2026 with a keynote on fundraising for collaboratives. She led The Salt Lake Tribune's nonprofit transition and co-founded The National Trust for Local News. The big idea: going together raises more. May 15, Temple University in Philly.

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a supporting sponsor of #CJS2026. Their work building Philadelphia's local news ecosystem is exactly what this summit is about. Shawn Mooring from Lenfest will be on stage May 14 at Temple in Philly.

The Sick Times was founded in 2023 to cover the Long Covid-19 crisis, and accepts pitches for reporting, essays and investigations and stories about biomedical research. Learn more on the Freelance Journalism Podcast: bit.ly/IIJ_FJP

NJ 11 Candidate Conversations Monday and Tuesday at Temple Ner Tamid This program will also be available for streaming on the TNT YouTube channel. 

The Day 1 lightning talks at #CJS2026 are all about Philly. Gene Sonn on moving the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative into a university. Vanessa Maria Graber on the Philly Comunicadores. Mike Rispoli on building coalitions in Pennsylvania. May 14 at Temple.

The NJ Community Media awards showcased so many local outlets doing important work. Really impressive. Here is Slice of Culture winning an award for important police accountability reporting

One of the better things I've read recently remains the Nieman "prediction" (a plea, really) by @jamditis.bsky.social It's legit insane that newsrooms will hire an editor for their "experience" without seeing if they know how URLs work or how to use Google Docs. www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/plea...

A guide to contributing responsibly when you're using AI coding agents — because every pull request costs someone their time, and most open source maintainers are volunteers. strugglestreet.substack.com/p/dont-be-a-...

How do collaboratives track impact differently than traditional newsrooms? Caroline Porter's session at #CJS2026 is about frameworks built specifically for collaborative work — not just reach, but real community change. May 15 at Temple in Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Amanda Zamora's Day 1 keynote at #CJS2026 asks what journalism looks like when information becomes mutual aid — meeting people where they are when their safety and rights are on the line. May 14 at Temple in Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Fraser Nelson led the Salt Lake Tribune through its transformation to nonprofit and co-founded the National Trust for Local News. Her Day 2 keynote at #CJS2026: fundraising for collaboratives. May 15 at Temple in Philly.

Space is capped at 150 people. If you've been meaning to register for #CJS2026 — now's the time. May 14-15 at Temple in Philadelphia. Scholarship tickets available — email [email protected]. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

A nation that helped shape modern war reporting is now treated as peripheral. In the wake of journalist killings, the consequences are clear, writes Zahra Hankir. www.cjr.org/feature/who-...

Montclair High School Softball Under New Leader Goes Up Against Best of the Best in Essex The Mounties will be taking on some of the top softball programs in the state including Mount St. Dominic and Cedar Grove.

Sharing back-office services is a real path to resilience for collaboratives. Ellen Meany's session at #CJS2026 covers shared HR, CRM, fiscal sponsorship, and how to build cross-outlet work without losing editorial independence. May 15 at Temple. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Investigators “assisted” Hannah Natanson in applying her right index finger to a Post-owned MacBook Pro, accessing all its data, write Jem Bartholomew. www.cjr.org/the_media_to...

Melinda Clynes from Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative has a stat worth sitting with: in 2025, 60% of their stories came from community advisors. She's bringing that lesson to a lightning talk at #CJS2026. May 15 at Temple in Philly.

"Collaborate or die." That's the theme of #CJS2026 — not a slogan, but a reality check for journalism right now. May 14-15 at Temple University in Philadelphia. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Before the summit kicks off, the IWMF and Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press are leading a half-day safety training on May 14 (8 AM–noon). Risk assessment, digital safety, covering protests, legal know-your-rights. Separate registration required. #CJS2026

Pennsylvania has built one of the deepest collaborative journalism networks in the country. At #CJS2026, Andrew Conte, Shawn Mooring, Christopher Baxter and Kristin Traniello dig into what's been built — from Spotlight PA to Every Voice Every Vote. May 14 at Temple in Philly.

Commentary from @theconversation.com: "This evisceration of local journalism leads to ever-expanding news deserts across the country, where tens of millions of Americans are living in areas with little or no local news media whatsoever."

What would it take to build a worker cooperative for product, tech, and ops journalists doing fractional work with no collective support? Matthew Green and Madison Karas explore that in a session at #CJS2026. May 15 at Temple. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Spots at #CJS2026 are limited to 150 people. If cost is a barrier, scholarship tickets are available — email [email protected]. May 14-15 at Temple University in Philadelphia. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Fundraising is hard. Doing it together might be the answer. Fraser Nelson's Day 2 keynote at #CJS2026 digs into how collaboratives can raise money jointly — and why the long game is better played in partnership. May 15 at Temple. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Amanda Zamora's Day 1 keynote at #CJS2026 argues journalism must treat information as mutual aid — not just a record. Her fireside chat opens the summit on May 14 at Temple in Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

Seven lightning talks on Day 2 of #CJS2026 — community advisory panels, data journalism with volunteer coders, creator strategies, TAPinto's franchise model, and more. May 15 at Temple in Philly. summit.collaborativejournalism.org

New at Media Nation: A new report on nonprofit local news calls for collaboration — and warns that philanthropy has its limits. #journalism dankennedy.net/2026/03/20/a...

Nashville reporter Estefany Rodríguez is free

The creation of state media continues at the local level under Carr's FCC. This is even more dangerous than Ellison Inc., for people still watch local TV. FCC approves merger of local television owners Nexstar and Tegna as two lawsuits seek to block it www.npr.org/2026/03/20/n...

When the FCC won’t do its job or respect the law, it’s time to go to court. Free Press' co-CEO @notaaroncraig.bsky.social on the latest Pressing Issues about the dangers of the Nexstar-Tegna merger and the corrupt process pushing it forward:

We're honoring Kathy Merritt with the inaugural Keystone Collaborator award at #CJS2026 — recognizing an individual whose contributions to collaborative journalism have made a lasting impact on the field. The award will be presented at the May 14 awards dinner at WHYY in Philadelphia.

@freepress.bsky.social is pleased to see that 8 state AGs, including mine - @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov - have sued to block the Nexstar Tegna merger. This mega merger would significantly reduce local and independent news. Glad to see states stepping up! www.freepress.net/news/state-a...

What does it take for a news org to thrive amid economic, consumer, and political challenges? @spotlightpa.org may have some answers. In a new case study, we look at how it has become a pillar of PA’s news ecosystem, providing coverage for more than 125 news orgs across the state free-of-charge.

Positive Pittsburgh press 👏📰🎉 The assets of Pittsburgh’s renowned alt-weekly City Paper have been sold to social entrepreneur Chris Maury, who will operate a new nonprofit organization called LocalMatters. The Lenfest Institute is pleased to serve as fiscal sponsor and advisor to LocalMatters.

Day 1 of #CJS2026 wraps with an awards dinner at WHYY in Philly — the first-ever CJS awards ceremony. Cocktails at 6, program at 7. May 14 at Temple University. summit.collaborativejournalism.org