Author Archives: Tracie Powell

Despite extensive media coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign, much of it failed to connect with the public in meaningful ways. By the time the final ballot was cast on election night, it was clear that many Americans had hardly paid attention. Just consider the election-day spike in online searches asking, “Did Joe Biden dropContinue reading “America’s Electoral Crisis: The Local News Disconnect”

Investing in the infrastructure of local news organizations is essential for ensuring their long-term success, sustainability, and resilience. Funders understand that a strong infrastructure serves as the backbone for local journalism, providing the foundation that enables newsrooms to deliver accurate, relevant, and timely information to their communities. These investments often go far beyond just providingContinue reading “How Funders Can Advance Local News by Investing in Infrastructure”

Hey Nonprofit Newsleaders, You may be keeping an eye on HR 9495—and for good reason. This bill,passed by the House today, could give the Treasury Department unprecedented power to revoke nonprofit status without the usual checks and balances. That’s a serious threat to our missions, especially for publishers of color working hard to serve theirContinue reading “HR 9495: What You Can Do Now, No Matter What Happens”

Dear Founders and Publishers, As we move past the 2024 election season, one thing remains clear: data continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the conversation. Local newsrooms, especially those led by BIPOC communities, are increasingly turning to data journalism to provide deeper insights into community issues. But what exactly is data journalism, andContinue reading “The Role of Data Journalism in Strengthening Community Impact”

Earlier this week, the U.S. Congress issued a warning to the nonprofit sector, including nonprofit journalism, by attempting to fast-track a bill that would allow the Trump Administration to unilaterally revoke the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit deemed to be “supporting terrorism.” While the bill primarily targeted pro-Palestine organizations, it also posed a threat toContinue reading “Thriving in Uncertain Political Times: A Guide for Newsrooms”

In this recent presidential election cycle, the consequences of critical civic news failing to reach those who need it most have become strikingly clear. Many Americans are tuning out traditional journalism, actively avoiding national news networks and opting not to subscribe to national or local newspapers. Despite this, the demand for reliable information remains high.Continue reading “Michigan Local News Charts Independent Path Amid Polarization”

As we move beyond election season, it’s crucial for BIPOC publishers to remain vigilant about the ongoing legal challenges that can arise in our journalism. As local publishers, especially in the BIPOC community, it’s important to stay aware of the legal landscape to keep our reporting strong and our publications protected. Let’s dive into whatContinue reading “Post-Election Season Legal Challenges:A Guide for BIPOC Publishers”

The billionaire owners of the Washington Post and LA Times sparked a firestorm of debate when they blocked their editorial writers from endorsing a 2024 presidential candidate. For The Post—an iconic outlet under Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—this decision triggered over 200,000 readers to cancel their subscriptions. Much of the anger and angst is over whetherContinue reading “Why many independent community newsrooms don’t make endorsements”