INN explains why we should embrace news as a public good. DIY

By Tracie Powell

In her essay, What if we embraced news as a public good?, Coutney Lewis of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) makes a compelling case that newspapers’ past glory days as commercial products have us chasing the wrong metrics for the news industry’s future. 

If, instead of focusing on revenue and audience size, we recognize that news is a public good—like the utilities that keep our lights on and roads safe—then we would be ready to support it through public subsidies and measure the impact it delivers in return. 

Indeed, embracing news as a public good is more than a shift in perception. It involves shifts by news organizations, funders, government and education – adding up to news reclaiming its place as a trusted, beneficial, and essential service in people’s lives. Lewis gives examples of news organizations that are already leading this shift – here’s my playbook for what still needs to happen:

1. Restoring Trust

Public skepticism toward news often stems from perceived bias, sensationalism, and misinformation. For the public to see news as beneficial:

• Transparency is key: Outlets must openly share their methods, sources, and editorial decisions to demonstrate accountability.
• Fact-based reporting: A renewed emphasis on evidence-based journalism can counter misinformation and foster credibility the way that MLK50 has with its reporting on poverty issues including how decisions about bus routes impact the working poor in Memphis.
• Diverse voices: News should reflect a wide range of perspectives, ensuring all communities feel represented and respected.

2. Highlighting Relevance

News must feel directly impactful to people’s lives to be seen as beneficial:

• Local focus: Prioritize community-centric stories that address immediate concerns like schools, healthcare, or local governance the way Pasa La Voz Noticias is doing now in the face of a federal crackdown on immigration. 
• Constructive journalism: Shift from doom-and-gloom headlines to solutions-oriented reporting, offering actionable insights alongside problems like the Jersey Bee did with its reporting on how residents can prevent and address SNAP benefit theft (in both Spanish and English).
• Interactive engagement: Incorporate tools like town halls, Q&A sessions, or live reporting to make news participatory and dynamic.

3. Making News Accessible

For news to be perceived as a public good, it must be available to all without barriers:

• Affordability: Explore funding models like subsidies, donations, or government grants to provide free or low-cost access to quality journalism.
• Digital equity: Bridge the digital divide to ensure everyone can access news online, especially in underserved communities. Remove paywalls, especially if the newsroom receives grant funding.
• Simplifying content: Use clear, engaging formats to ensure news is digestible and relatable across demographics like El Tecolote does, by producing information for its audiences’ ears in the language its audiences understand. El Tecolote also adapts its reporting in relatable formats, including live performances about important issues like labor laws in California.

4. Education and Media Literacy

Promoting media literacy is essential for the public to appreciate and understand the role of journalism:

• Early education: Introduce media literacy into school curriculums to teach students how to critically evaluate news sources.
• Public campaigns: Run initiatives to help adults identify trustworthy news and understand the societal impact of journalism.

5. Reframing News as a Civic Duty

A cultural shift is needed to view consuming and supporting quality journalism as an act of civic participation:

• Campaigns for awareness: Position news consumption as a way to strengthen democracy, akin to voting or volunteering.
• Community partnerships: Work with local organizations to tie news to civic projects, demonstrating its utility in everyday life the way 285 South did in reporting about a local school that teaches immigrant women to drive.

By addressing these dimensions, news can reclaim its identity as not just a public good, but a vital part of the social fabric, indispensable for informed, empowered, and connected communities. In heeding INN’s call, this transformation offers an opportunity to rebuild trust and reaffirm journalism’s role as the bedrock of democracy.

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Tracie Powell is CEO and founder of The Pivot Fund, which supports the growth of hyperlocal news outlets that have earned the trust of the communities they serve.