Innovation in Focus
Innovation in Focus brings creative spark to newsrooms
RJI’s Innovation in Focus series partners with community newsrooms nationwide to experiment with new ideas and publish the findings for the industry’s benefit.
Led by Emily Lytle, the series seeks to turn bold ideas into practical realities, serving the specific needs of newsrooms while coming away with conclusions and case studies that can serve much broader swathes of the journalism community. As Lytle begins her third year at RJI, her work is gaining significant momentum — Innovation in Focus worked with 18 newsrooms in 2024.
“I’m so proud of the projects our Innovation in Focus series featured this past year because we showed that innovation can look like so many things: an interactive resource hub, a community-centered candidate event, a zine, an online map,” Lytle said. “It’s been rewarding to see newsrooms realize what’s possible, and I’m excited to keep expanding the series to more partners and different types of projects in the new year.”
With The Buckeye Flame, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ news organization in Ohio, Innovation in Focus built an interactive map allowing audiences to find local pride events and even suggest events to add.
The project, which sprang from the news organization’s need for a more accessible and visually appealing Pride Guide, reflected Innovation in Focus’s emphasis on taking novel and creative approaches to meeting newsroom needs. RJI not only provides this hands-on project support but will also help cover any costs associated with the tools or ideas tested.
Buckeye Flame Editor Ken Schneck said the map itself was not the only benefit of working with RJI.
“This experience helped us think through a specific project but also take a step back and think how we can more effectively present information,” Schneck said. “Although we are enormously appreciative of the new mapping tool, the perspective piece was also invaluable.”
Like the other projects in the series, the interactive map was designed to be cost-effective and easy-to-use. Innovation student staffer Olivia Dolan, a junior at the Missouri School of Journalism, tested four different mapping tools before settling on Proxi, which allowed Dolan to create a visually attractive, informative and easily navigable map.
The work paid off — within 24 hours of its public unveiling, the map received 1,500 views and nearly a dozen suggested additions from readers.
Schneck added that Dolan’s presence was itself an added benefit of the experience.
“The opportunity to work with a student was endlessly inspiring,” he said. “It gave this process a shot of energy we needed as it was truly beneficial to see our work through her eyes.”
Innovation in Focus employs Missouri School of Journalism students throughout the year; joining Dolan in 2024 were Sophia Anderson, Chioma Obianinwa and Kendall Williams.
Another project was inspired in part by Block Club Chicago leveraging a local alligator sighting to create a successful merch campaign. Innovation in Focus worked with four newsrooms that hired local artists and launched websites to sell t-shirts and other merchandise. Each participating organization — Saco Bay News, Black Iowa News, Fort Worth Report and My Ballard — came away with firsthand insights into merchandising platforms, the nuances of finding and paying artists and much more described in this how-to guide.
“I’m honestly in awe that I haven’t seen a ton of guides on how to do exactly what [Lytle] described in the piece,” said Gabe Schneider, co-founder of The Objective newsletter and adviser for LA Public Press, adding that he found the guide “extremely helpful.”
Merchandising also created or augmented other opportunities for community engagement. The Fort Worth Report tied its campaign into its “birthday party” celebration in the spring, while Saco Bay News got a boost when the mayor of Saco Bay, Maine, announced on social media that she had ordered a mug.
“Innovation in Focus was born from the idea that collaboration breeds creativity, and that collaboration doesn’t end with RJI and its partner newsrooms,” said Randy Picht, executive director of RJI. “Good local journalism partners with its community, and Emily’s work shows that happening in real time.”
There is much more to come; to follow along as Lytle and her team of student staffers develop creative solutions, subscribe to the Innovation in Focus newsletter here. If you are interested in partnering with RJI, or if you would like to replicate a past project in your own newsroom, reach out to Lytle at lytle@rjionline.org or Impact Producer Matt MacVey at macveym@rjionline.org.
Cite this article
Fitzgerald, Austin (2025, Jan. 22). Innovation in Focus brings creative spark to newsrooms. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Retrieved from: https://rjionline.org/news/innovation-in-focus-brings-creative-spark-to-newsrooms/
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