Category Archives: Analysis

When Enlace Latino NC covers a protest or community action today, nothing feels routine, says Co-founder and Executive Director Paola Jaramillo. Their small, immigrant-led newsroom has had to rethink nearly every part of its reporting — from what their reporters wear to who can safely enter a high-risk environment — because frontline journalists cannot predictContinue reading “What Enlace Latino NC’s Experience Reveals About the Safety Risks Facing Community Newsrooms — and Why Funders Should Care”

What the recent federal shutdown revealed — and why funders should pay attention During the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, millions of families experienced delayed or reduced SNAP benefits, creating immediate gaps in access to food and essential services. While national outlets focused on political gridlock, community-rooted newsrooms quietly became part of theContinue reading “How Investing in Community Media Strengthens Crisis Response Infrastructure”

I predicted in 2017 that marginalized voices could be silenced by structural shifts in media and technology. That moment has arrived: Teen Vogue is gone, and the recent layoffs when it was folded into the parent magazine mean there are now no Black women working in the teen section. NBC News closed its identity-focused verticalsContinue reading “From Prediction to Reality: The Loss of Platforms for Youth and Communities of Color”

How Pivot-Backed Outlets Are Innovating to Engage Younger Audiences As trusted local media evolves, The Pivot Fund’s grantees are proving that innovation and intergenerational engagement go hand in hand. With support from Pivot, Chavez Media’s Radio Campesina is pioneering new ways to connect with younger Latino audiences—building a bridge between legacy trust and digital-first storytelling.Continue reading “Investing in the Next Generation of Trusted Media”

Independent, community-rooted publishers are under extraordinary strain — from funding cuts and policy shifts to politically motivated intimidation. Yet across the country, they continue to lead with courage, creativity, and care. During a recent Pivot Fund webinar, On the Front Lines with Community Media, newsroom leaders shared how they’re adapting to continue serving their audiences despiteContinue reading “Holding the Line: Community Publishers Rise Amid Threats, Change”

Engaging a New Generation: Pivot-Backed Reporter Brings a Fresh Voice, Younger Audience to Chavez Media With support from The Pivot Fund, Ernesto “Lego” Legorreta Rodríguez is helping Chavez Media’s Radio Campesina usher in a new era—one that speaks directly to younger audiences. As media consumption shifts and younger generations look for information in new ways, Chavez MediaContinue reading “Community Media Gets Creative to Connect Younger Audiences”

In Kansas City, a Black-owned newsroom turns reporting into action, tackling food insecurity while rebuilding civic trust. Community-rooted journalism can do more than report—it can identify urgent needs, mobilize resources, and strengthen civic infrastructure. The Kansas City Defender, a Black-owned newsroom, is showing exactly how this works through the Hamer Free Food Program, a mutual aid initiativeContinue reading “When Journalism Becomes Civic Infrastructure”

Across the country, community-centered newsrooms are proving something that’s critical for funders to understand: when you invest in capacity, you unlock sustainability. These outlets—led by and for communities long overlooked by traditional media—are trusted in ways few institutions can match. But trust alone doesn’t pay salaries or keep the lights on. What we’ve learned through supportingContinue reading “The Power of Capacity in Community Newsrooms”

Myers Reece, executive director of Underscore Native News, shows what it means to lead when the story isn’t yours  What does it mean to lead a newsroom deeply rooted in a community that’s not your own? For Myers Reece, executive director of Underscore Native News, it starts with something simple but powerful: respect—for the people, theContinue reading “Leadership in Community Media: Serving as a ‘Helpful Guest’”

For years, newsrooms were told that success was about reach. Pageviews, clicks, and impressions filled dashboards and board reports. The logic was simple: more visitors meant more ad dollars. But that world has changed. Advertising no longer sustains most local outlets, and today’s audiences find news in fragments—through feeds, alerts, and algorithms. In this environment,Continue reading “Belonging: The True Measure of Hyperlocal Value”