Category Archives: Analysis

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”

When NotiVisión Georgia set out to report on domestic violence in Latino communities, their goal wasn’t accolades—it was healing. But the newsroom’s commitment to trust, cultural care, and deep listening led to a powerful, Emmy-award winning series that reframed the way domestic violence is understood and discussed in Middle Georgia. Earlier this month, The PivotContinue reading “How Trauma-Informed Reporting Built Trust—and Won an Emmy”

Nonprofit journalism is under pressure—and under fire. With rising scrutiny from politicians and increasing calls for audits, oversight, and even revocation of nonprofit status, media entrepreneurs face an uncertain road ahead. The chilling effect is real, especially for nonprofit newsrooms focused on accountability, equity, and public-interest reporting. In this landscape, cooperative media offers a powerful alternative—one that’sContinue reading “As Nonprofit News Is Targeted, Co-ops Offer a Way Forward”

Last spring, I put my house on the market and got a crash course in valuation—not just in real estate, but in journalism too. Like many of you, I’ve poured time, money, and love into my home. My neighborhood is one of those quietly transforming American suburbs, shifting from mostly white public-sector workers to aContinue reading “What Selling My House Revealed About How Our Industry Values Us”

Preserving the Past, Powering the Present: Black Miami-Dade’s Storytelling in Action When Nadege Green walks into a space, she’s often carrying more than history — she’s carrying memory, identity, and community. Whether it’s salvaged archives from the now-closed Tap Tap Restaurant or oral histories of Miami’s Black LGBTQ+ residents, Green knows that local stories haveContinue reading “Past, Present, and Hyperlocal In Black Miami”

Minnesota is changing. And so must the way we deliver news and information. While the state’s population has grown more diverse over the decades, traditional media hasn’t kept up.  In The Pivot Fund’s assessment of Minnesota’s local news landscape, which included listening sessions and focus groups with over 600 Minnesotans from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds,Continue reading “How We Analyzed Minnesota’s Local News Landscape”

The room was full of funders, but the heart of the conversation was all about community. At the fifth annual Rural Equity Summit, Tracie Powell, founder of The Pivot Fund, joined Sarah Bignall, CEO of KAXE in Northern Minnesota, and Lindsay Ryder, director of the Integrated Rural Strategies Group, for a powerful discussion on theContinue reading “Clean Water, Public Parks, and the Power of Rural News”

Earlier this month, I had the honor of meeting with 18 news publishers and media founders in Tulsa. It was a warm and eye-opening experience, one that underscored both the challenges and opportunities facing Black- and Brown-led media organizations in Oklahoma. Tulsa holds a special place in my heart. My dad attended school there whenContinue reading “Finding Strength in Community:A Transformative Gathering in Tulsa”

Covering immigration raids requires a deep understanding of the sensitive and complex nature of the subject. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) has provided guidelines for journalists to help ensure they report on these events with accuracy, ethics, and care. As journalists, our role is to inform, protect, and elevate the voices of thoseContinue reading “5 Essential Tips for Reporting on Immigration Raids: from NAHJ”