The City uses impactful, mission-oriented journalism to cover New York City
Aug 8, 2024
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Nic Dawes is the executive director of The City, an independent nonprofit newsroom dedicated to local news in New York. He shares how their mission-driven journalism fills gaps left by the decline of major outlets. Dawes discusses innovative projects, like a digital memorial for COVID victims, and how community engagement shapes critical stories. He also highlights the challenges of open data access and the importance of diversity in the newsroom, emphasizing that inclusivity enhances the quality and relevance of local journalism.
The City addresses the decline of local journalism in New York by delivering impactful and mission-oriented reporting for the community.
The nonprofit model of The City prioritizes meaningful storytelling and civic engagement over traditional advertising metrics, fostering public accountability.
Deep dives
Filling the Gap in Local News
The discussion highlights the critical situation in local journalism, particularly following the decline of prominent outlets in New York City. An independent newsroom, The City, aims to address this gap by focusing on impactful journalism that serves and informs the community. Recognizing the importance of a locally focused approach, the organization commits to delivering investigative and service-based reporting that resonates with residents. By concentrating on specific areas like campaign finance and public policy, The City endeavors to ensure its coverage is not only relevant but also instrumental in driving conversations about civic engagement.
A Novel Approach to Reporting
The organization employs a dual focus in its reporting strategy, combining high-quality investigative journalism with service journalism that meets the immediate needs of New Yorkers. By leveraging community engagement and feedback, The City develops content that addresses pressing issues faced by the public, such as navigating public services and understanding local legislation. This combination not only builds trust with the audience but also enhances the impact of their investigative work. Such an approach is designed to demonstrate the usefulness and accessibility of information, ultimately fostering greater public awareness and accountability.
Sustainable Nonprofit Model
Operating as a nonprofit allows The City to prioritize its mission of producing impactful journalism over traditional advertising metrics like page views. This model encourages a sustainable revenue stream through major philanthropic donations while also actively seeking support from local readers. The commitment to impact rather than mere audience reach enables the newsroom to focus on significant stories that resonate with the community and effect change. Through examples of successful reporting that led to legislative actions, The City underscores the value and importance of nonprofit journalism in today's media landscape, particularly in addressing the needs of local communities.
Nic Dawes, executive director of The City, discuses how the independent, nonprofit newsroom fills the gap in local news coverage of New York City, following the closures or shrinkage of the New York Daily News and DNAInfo.
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