Local news entrepreneurs test new ways of engaging with their communities

In local news, people looking for a magic model might do better by appreciating the mess. Experimentation, messy as it is - is key to the evolution in local news.

Local news start up survey: Most publishers report revenue growth

A new survey of online local news sites offers room for optimism: More than 60 percent of the publishers responding said they increased their revenues in 2013 over 2012. 

Metrics that make sense for community publishers: April 24 webinar

Web and social media metrics are crucial for gauging how well you're reaching your community. The catch is, metrics tools generally were not designed with community publishers in mind. On April 24, a free KDMC webinar will show how community publishers can use two popular metrics tools to serve their unique goals.

Can local news scale? The Alternative Press tests a franchise model in New Jersey

Patch sought to scale its way to big profits without success. In the rough-and-tumble local news enviroment, independent publishers may find more benefit in attempting to scale for efficiencies. That's a key ingredient of a franchise model The Alternative Press is pioneering.

Atomizing mobile news: Borrowing a page from Circa

Is telling a narrative story always the best way to inform and engage a news audience? Not always, according to a leading digital news practitioner who spoke at this week's Mobile First conference. The takeaway: Thinking mobile first can help you make the best of scarce resources -- yours, or your community's.

How understanding the local budget empowers community

Two foundations in California are priming their communities for open government initiatives by teaching them how the local government budget works and that they can have a hand in influencing it. 

Report: Almost everything you thought you knew about how people get news is wrong

Since the dawn of the web, many news organizations and media watchers have made key strategic decisions based on deeply held beliefs about who accesses news online, and how people get and perceive news in general. New audience research published today by an American Press Institute initiative indicates that many of these beliefs are now obsolete. This has profound implications for disseminating news and information, from the global level down to the local communities.

Health and place: Engaging your community on local health issues

A key aspect of healthy communities is, well, health. Residents often are highly concerned about the physical and mental health of themselves, their families, and their neighbors -- which means that exploring local health topics can be an especially compelling way to engage your community.

A leading program for training professional journalists in innovative ways to cover the intersection of health and place offers tips that apply to any effort to inform and engage communities.

Whole systems approach aims to fortify New Jersey media

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is taking a whole systems approach to creating sustainable media start-ups in New Jersey. And Knight Foundation is supporting Dodge's work with a $2 million grant over two years. 

Thinking about the future of local news? Start by setting Patch's troubles aside

Patch's failure tells us very little about the challenges and rewards of community news. There are encouraging signs that independent local news is entering a new phase, and that funders are testing methods of funding that might more closely match both the need and the opportunity.