Author Archives: support

Carmen Robles never set out to be a journalist. Her life’s work has been rooted in community advocacy—fighting for health and education equality in Minnesota’s Latino communities. But when the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare just how deeply traditional media failed to reach her neighbors, Robles did what she’s always done: she stepped up to fillContinue reading “How Carmen Robles Is Reimagining Local News in Minnesota”

Much of the recent conversation around Public Media has centered around eliminating federal funding. But the issues facing independent broadcasting go well beyond Congressional appropriations and grants.  The model that once served millions, powered by a mix of federal funding, donor support, and national syndication, no longer meets the needs of today’s information ecosystem. Like muchContinue reading “How Public Media Can Evolve by Powering the Hyperlocal Future”

Ever since I shared my insights on the collapse of the Houston Landing, people have been asking me if there is a right way to fund news startups. My answer is yes, absolutely – and it starts with finding startups trusted by their communities. My Inside Philanthropy op-ed argued that the Landing did not find a loyal audience becauseContinue reading “The Future of Local News Will Be Built on Community Trust”

When traditional media denied her maternity leave, Georgia Fort made a bold choice: she left behind more than a decade-long career—two Emmy nominations to her name—and built what many said couldn’t be done. Today, as founder of the digital platform BLCK Press, she leads a trusted, Black-led multimedia powerhouse serving the Twin Cities and beyond. BLCKContinue reading “What Georgia Fort’s Media Empire Can Teach Funders”

At Enlace Latino NC, journalism isn’t just information—it’s infrastructure. And for funders looking to support journalism that delivers real-world results, their model offers a powerful example. This North Carolina-based, nonprofit newsroom has been serving the state’s Spanish-speaking immigrant communities since 2018 with deeply reported, culturally competent public service journalism. Its latest resource— a Spanish-language immigration guide —is moreContinue reading “Enlace Latino NC’s Service Journalism Builds Trust, Partnerships”

The Courier Eco Latino’s innovative approach to diversifying revenue through its obituary platform is paying off—but not in the way originally expected. Since launching the initiative in October, the Columbus, Georgia-based news outlet has shown that building sustainable revenue is about flexibility, creativity, and staying deeply connected to community needs. Now partnered with more thanContinue reading “Courier Eco Latino Adapts Revenue Idea to Meet Community Needs”

From maternity leave denial to a multiplatform powerhouse, Fort’s journey offers a roadmap for founders redefining journalism from the ground up. What does it take to build a media empire in 2025? For Georgia Fort, founder of digital platform BLCK Press, it started with a no—and turned into a national yes. When traditional media denied herContinue reading “How to Build a Hyperlocal Media Empire: Lessons from Georgia Fort”

When Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported in a high-profile case that made national headlines, only one newsroom in Baltimore reported a critical detail others missed: that the government’s case relied on the testimony of a police officer deemed untrustworthy by a county’s state’s attorney’s office. That newsroom was Baltimore Beat. The story was reported by a freelancer andContinue reading “Baltimore Beat Scoops National Press on Deportation Case”