Mclellan Blog | Knight Digital Media Center

Charlottesville Tomorrow: How nonprofit news can make money

News for Digital Innovators

Tue, November 20, 2012 | 11:13 a.m. PST

Many community news startups are structured as nonprofit organizations. A recent profile of one such news outlet, Charlottesville Tomorrow, offers lessons for how nonprofit news can thrive through partnerships and donors.

More newspaper paywalls: opportunities for community news startups?

News for Digital Innovators

Tue, November 20, 2012 | 9:10 a.m. PST

by Amy Gahran

The trend toward paywalls is accelerating among print newspapers. Might this indicate an opportunity for local news startup ventures serving those communities?

Block by Block: 3 years, important lessons

Community News Leadership 3.0

Fri, November 16, 2012 | 3:55 a.m. PST

by Michele McLellan

The Block by Block Community News Summit, a network of local news entrepreneurs , was born three years ago this month.

BMe: Connecting black men in Detroit, Philadelphia and (now) Baltimore

News for Digital Innovators

Wed, November 14, 2012 | 1:38 p.m. PST

by Amy Gahran

If you read the news about black men in the U.S., chances are it's mostly about the challenges they face. This week marks the expansion of BMe -- a project where people can share stories about how black men are strengthening communities in three U.S. cities.

Becoming data literate: Community news tips

Community News Leadership 3.0

Wed, November 14, 2012 | 12:55 p.m. PST

by Amy Gahran

Often the news -- even local or hyperlocal news -- is in the numbers. But as recent election coverage showed, data illiteracy is a problem for many journalists. Here are some ways to sharpen you data analysis skills in order to create stronger, more compelling community news coverage.

Election shows data illiteracy is a problem for journalists

News for Digital Innovators

Wed, November 7, 2012 | 10:43 a.m. PST

by Amy Gahran

The sharp contrast between Nate Silver-style data-focused reporting and traditional election coverage highlights a growing problem in journalism: data illiteracy. This affects all news, from national and global to hyperlocal.

NJ News Commons Helps Residents Vote, Track Results In Wake Of Hurricane Sandy

Community News Leadership 3.0

Tue, November 6, 2012 | 10:18 a.m. PST

by Lisa Williams

New Jersey News Commons, a new project to pump up the amount of civic news and information for New Jersey residents, got an early test of their collaborative model with Sandy, and today is working to inform residents of changed polling places and election results in the wake of the hurricane.

Citizen's story of a local samaritan helps put Winnipeg's Community News Commons on the map

Community News Leadership 3.0

Mon, November 5, 2012 | 11:50 a.m. PST

by LuAnn Lovlin

A simple act of generosity demonstrates the value of a new citizen news site sponsored by The Winnipeg Foundation. The Community News Commons' story helps focus the larger community on the important issue of homelessness.