Category Archives: Resources

In today’s polarized climate, the words we choose can make—or break—our fundraising campaigns. As giving season ramps up, nonprofit newsrooms face a critical challenge: how to raise funds authentically without compromising their mission or alienating supporters. That question took center stage in The Pivot Fund’s recent webinar, Smart Fundraising, Careful Language: Winning Year-End Strategies forContinue reading “Smart Fundraising, Careful Language: Winning Year-End Strategies for 2025”

The final stretch of the year brings big opportunities for community media: grow support, strengthen relationships, and remind your audience why your work matters. End-of-year fundraising isn’t just about donations — it’s about connection. It’s your chance to tell powerful stories, celebrate your newsroom’s impact, and invite your community to invest in its future. WeContinue reading “It’s Time to Launch Your End-of-Year Campaign: How to Prepare”

Community media like NotiVisión Georgia are reimagining public events to ensure safety, belonging, and joy amid rising anti-immigrant tensions. Across the country, community media outlets that serve Spanish-speaking and immigrant audiences are rethinking what it means to host public events. In today’s climate—where fear and uncertainty have grown under new anti-immigrant policies—celebrations that once feltContinue reading “How Community Media Can Host Events in Uncertain Times”

Hyperlocal newsrooms are used to stretching every dollar, every hour, and every reporter. Yet, through strategic partnerships—especially with public media—hyperlocal outlets are expanding reach, resources, and impact. These partnerships are becoming even more crucial as public media itself faces major funding challenges. The recent elimination of $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for PublicContinue reading “Partnering with Public Media: Tips for Hyperlocal Newsrooms”

Baltimore Beat, a Black-led, nonprofit newsroom, is building a powerful case for what sustainable, community-rooted journalism can look like—with the right kind of investment and trust from funders. Rather than chasing scale or click-throughs, The Beat is focused on experimentation, innovation, and hyperlocal impact. This ethos—one that many funders champion but few media outlets canContinue reading “Lessons from The Baltimore Beat’s Community-Driven Revenue Model”

Baltimore Beat’s latest revenue experiments haven’t delivered a financial windfall—but they’ve produced something just as valuable: insight. In a media landscape where local newsrooms are pushed to pivot fast and often, the Beat offers a counter-model rooted in learning, community connection, and thoughtful experimentation. Earlier this year, the Beat ran a campaign giving families theContinue reading “What Baltimore Beat’s Revenue Experiments Reveal About Local News”

With help from The Pivot Fund, this strategic hire shows how community media can build trust, expand local coverage, and fight misinformation on Spanish-language airwaves. With dedicated support from The Pivot Fund, Radio Campesina has hired veteran journalist Ernesto Rodríguez—a milestone that marks a bold step forward in the station’s mission to deliver trusted, community-rooted journalism across Arizona.Continue reading “Radio Campesina Hires a Local Reporter to Tackle Disinformation”

How Immigrant-Serving Newsrooms Are Reshaping Journalism—Together Immigration crackdowns. Policy whiplash. Rising fear and misinformation. In the face of these challenges, community-rooted newsrooms aren’t just reporting the news—they’re stepping up with tools, safety guides, and connection. At a recent Pivot Fund webinar, leaders from Enlace Latino NC, Radio Campesina Network, and Acción Latina (publisher of El Tecolote) shared how they’re meetingContinue reading “From Crisis Coverage to Community Care”

As I sat in the hair salon, surrounded by the gentle hum of blow dryers and the scent of hair products, I was unexpectedly drawn into the captivating world of “Who TF Did I Marry?” Every woman present seemed entranced by the viral reality series following the tumultuous journey of an Atlanta woman who married,Continue reading “What journalism can learn from TikTok’s “Who TF Did I Marry?”

Succession planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of your news startup. It involves identifying and developing talent within your organization to fill key roles when needed. Earlier this week, Evelyn Hsu, Co-Director of the Maynard Institute spoke with Jane McDonnell, CEO of Free Range Media, Sahan Journal CEO and Publisher, Mukhtar M. Ibrahim,Continue reading “Succession Planning Tip Sheet for News Startup Entrepreneurs”