631. Chestnut Hill Local seeks to grow readership in underserved communities
Aug 15, 2024
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Daralyse Lyons, a business growth officer at the Chestnut Hill Local with a passion for community journalism, discusses a $100,000 Lenfest grant aimed at boosting readership in underserved areas. She highlights innovative strategies like hiring a digital editor and hosting community idea labs to engage local audiences. Lyons emphasizes the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods like Germantown and Mount Airy, while balancing editorial integrity with community needs for a more inclusive, thriving local journalism landscape.
The Chestnut Hill Local is focusing on engaging underserved communities by utilizing a $100,000 Lenfest grant to expand readership.
Collaborative journalism initiatives are crucial for the sustainability of local media, enhancing storytelling through partnerships with other organizations.
Deep dives
Engaging Diverse Communities
The importance of engaging diverse communities in journalism is highlighted through various initiatives aimed at expanding readership beyond its traditional audience. Efforts include addressing a trust gap within underserved communities, particularly in areas like Germantown, which have historically lacked access to local news. Strategies are implemented to not only bring stories from these communities to the forefront but also to ensure that the communities feel their voices are represented in the media. Collaborations with local organizations and outreach efforts encourage dialogue and involvement between the newspaper and its readers.
The Role of Grants in Community Outreach
A significant catalyst for community outreach efforts is the $100,000 Lenfest grant awarded to the media organization, which aims to enhance engagement with underserved populations. This funding supports various strategies designed to familiarize these communities with the newspaper's offerings, potentially leading to increased readership. By hiring a dedicated digital editor and launching community idea labs, the organization seeks to foster a two-way relationship between the paper and its audience. This proactive approach not only promotes inclusivity but also aims to elevate stories from these communities that often go untold.
Sustainable Journalism Through Collaboration
Collaborative journalism projects are emphasized as essential for sustainability and growth in the local media landscape, especially in light of the challenges facing print journalism. The podcast discusses ongoing partnerships with other media organizations within the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative, which enhance storytelling and broaden coverage. By combining resources with like-minded organizations, the newspaper can tackle larger issues while still maintaining its local focus. This multifaceted strategy, which includes digital innovations and community engagement efforts, positions the newspaper to serve its diverse readership more effectively.
Daralyse Lyons, business growth officer at the Chestnut Hill Local, discusses a Lenfest grant of $100,000 to help the paper expand readership and its reader demographic in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.