Citizen and community news
Driving newsletter subscriptions through postcards
A community engagement project, analog style Covering everything from school district events to sports in a Kansas town of about 6,000 residents, reporters at the Eudora Times are well connected with their community. Still, the paper was interested in extending their reach beyond their immediate surroundings. They also wanted to draw more eyes to their … Continued
Exploring the intersection of public policy and local news
This article is part of RJI Impact, a series documenting how RJI projects are making a real difference for newsrooms and audiences all over the country. It was originally published in the Winter 2026 edition of RJI Insight, RJI’s biannual print magazine. A digital version of the magazine is available here. As more people argue … Continued
Building trust begins by listening — But it only grows when newsrooms give back
Closing the loop with the communities we serve reminds people that their voices matter—and that through collaboration, real progress and change actually happen.
Spreading hope and expanding community through physical mail
A conversation with Katie Hawkins-Gaar.
Redefining investigative journalism in underserved communities
Five questions with Jose Luis Castillo, La Esquina TX A 2025 El Tímpano report found that more than 150 ethnic- and immigrant-focused media outlets have closed since 2020, leaving many people without essential information in their own languages. Well-known newspapers like La Estrella de Tucson and El Mundo in Las Vegas have shut down or … Continued
Not invisible: How Enlace Latino NC tells the stories others miss
Five questions with Paola Jaramillo.
How we created resources for families of victims of unsolved homicides in St. Louis
The Marshall Project used alternative story forms to directly connect with the people at the center of the story.
Service journalism is essential for immigrant communities
Five questions with Se Habla Media.
How we created community-driven investigations for immigrant audiences
Using a needs assessment and theory of change to inform and empower the Vietnamese community in the U.S. about misinformation.
Going beyond traditional surveying to map community assets
Highlight community resources and stakeholders through interactive mapping.