2023, by the Numbers
Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media
Growing a more sustainable future for local news, the journalists who make it and the communities that need it.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who has played a part in shaping the future of local news in 2023. This includes the folks tirelessly working in news and civic organizations, on the ground providing reliable information to their communities, and the folks in news support organizations and academic centers who are studying, funding and supporting journalism.
It was a tough year for the media industry, but also one full of important and sometimes hopeful conversations about community, equity, sustainability, workplace culture and leadership in local news.
Building a brighter future is a team sport, and we’re constantly inspired by the generosity and kindness people in this industry have for each other in sharing their knowledge, time and resources.
From the team — Erica Perel , Jessica Mahone , Elizabeth Thompson and Sarah Vassello — Happy New Year.
As we’re looking forward to 2024, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2023 by the numbers — let’s dive in!
134: The number of people who followed our LinkedIn page
Thanks to all who have joined us over here! And if you’re new, welcome!
We launched our page in late 2022, and have big things planned for next year ??
50: The number of articles we published in 2023
These are case studies, Q&As and posts published on our website, to be clear, not academic articles. Written primarily by student workers, these articles shine a light on innovative work being done in local news.
In particular, we highlight:
?? Successful solutions from local news orgs, using Solutions Journalism Network’s framework to highlight what’s working in the field.
?? Q&As with leaders across journalism support orgs, including leaders of centers that are similar to ours.
?? Q&As with academic leaders researching local news, including researchers in our Local News Researchers Community.
37: The number of news organizations reached through our training programs, internship fair and more throughout the year
These trainings occurred both through our UNC Table Stakes program and otherwise.
We learned about behavioral economics and how they influence decisions online (hint: Offer fewer options for membership and a preferred tier!).
We connected UNC Hussman students to local news organizations through our annual internship fair.
If you’re a news organization based in the Southeastern U.S., stay tuned — we’ll have more to come in 2024.
21: The number of individual or organizational partners we’ve collaborated with on projects, events and/or research
Collaboration > competition ??
We’re very thankful for all of our partners and collaborators this year — we’re big believers in highlighting the folks already doing the work, and we’re always glad to join forces for good.
A special thank you to the individuals who helped drive these partnerships:
And, of course, an extra thank you to the Knight Foundation for supporting all our work.
12: The number of Local News Researcher Community Calls hosted this year
Our monthly community calls are a space for both academic and practitioner researchers studying local news to discuss upcoming, in-person and recently published projects.
If this sounds like you, join us!
To get a sense of the folks in this community, our Q&A series with community members highlights some recent works.
11: The number of new alumni members in the UNC Table Stakes community
Cohort six wrapped up in November, which means that 11 news organizations joined our alumni group as orgs that have tackled their biggest challenges in order to become more sustainable businesses.
Across six cohorts, we’ve trained 61 media organizations across the Southeast ranging in business types, from for-profit startups to legacy organizations to early-stage nonprofits to public media.
More on these fabulous orgs, including a map of all alumni and examples of solutions created, on our site.
11: The number of undergraduate and graduate students we’ve worked with this year
We’ve had the joy and privilege to work with 11 undergraduate and graduate students through our internship program this year!
Our undergraduate interns primarily work on the content side while our graduate students focus more on research, though a diversity of projects is not uncommon.
A big shoutout to:
At the beginning of their hiring semester, we ask our interns to write profiles of each other. Dive in (spoiler: They’re all wonderful, dedicated to local news and essential to the CISLM team ?? )
7: The number of research reports and editorial deep dives we published
Our research and editorial work is intended to push forward CISLM's vision: to create a more sustainable and equitable future for local news, the journalists who make it and the communities that need it.
??? An update on state legislative support
?? Our local media burnout report
?? Local news and COVID-19 in NC (By Ely Portillo —?his UNC master's thesis!)
?? An overview of community-to-journalist training programs
1: The number of full conferences we co-hosted this year
A joint effort with Duke's DeWitt-Wallace Center for Media & Democracy, the 2023 Local Journalism Researchers' Workshop brought together nearly 60 academic and of-the-practice local news researchers and funders to discuss recent work, emerging theories and to facilitate future collaborative projects.
Topics of specific interest include:
Marisa Porto, MBA , UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media 's John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability, wrote a takeaway, so you know what to expect in 2024.
1: The number of bus tour stops we attended
Specifically, we presented at the Tar Heel Bus Tour, hosted by UNC Rural.
Erica Perel traveled to Whiteville, NC to talk about local news sustainability in rural areas, joining expert residents in local news, Les High of Border Belt Independent and Justin Smith of The News Reporter .
In 2024, stay tuned for a report on ad buyers in North Carolina in partnership with our research consultant Ted Williams, trainings that help center news orgs center community in coverage, as well as make more money, and our 2024 Local News Researchers Workshop.
Any questions or want to work together in 2024? Email us at [email protected]
Writer at CNET covering AI, social media and online services
1 年CISLM Wrapped ????