Revenue strategies
Social enterprise leader urges local media to embrace the role of educator, anchor institution
Maurice Jones says running the Virginian-Pilot was one of the most fun jobs he’s ever had. That was years before the newspaper was sold to TRONC which was sold to Tribune Publishing which barely thwarted a takeover by the hedge fund Alden Global Capital, known for buying and pillaging local newspapers. Jones left the Pilot … Continued
RJI Fellow helps newsrooms rethink obituaries to memorialize those lost during COVID-19
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute awarded seven fellowships for the 2020–21 academic year for projects that address the increasing challenges in covering climate change, unpublishing, harassment of marginalized journalists and more.
Local communities and local news need a new economic narrative: Why not create it together?
If local news is so critical to the health, economic and civic success of a community, why are local news organizations an afterthought in economic development conversations? And what would it take to change that?
Create a newsletter worth reading: Tips from the experts
Tatyana Monnay is the RJI Student Innovation Fellow at the Associated Press. This summer our student fellows will be sharing dispatches from their fellowships in newsrooms across the country for Innovation in Focus. Newsletters can be a powerful product to add to your newsroom to inform your community and engage them in topics they care … Continued
Can pay-by-text micropayments become a viable revenue source for newspapers?
COVID-19 accelerated what we’ve known for some time: Newsrooms cannot rely on advertising. Now more than ever newsrooms need to grow reader revenue — soliciting direct support from their readers. We have subscriptions. A new study from the International News Media Association (INMA) found that 39% of digital news publishers across 33 countries charged for … Continued
Voice delivered news: Innovation skill
Integrating content with voice assistants is easier than ever
Five takeaways from a new study of local digital news publishers
For-profit news startups are more likely to succeed than other small businesses, but many owners aren’t getting rich. I’ve been tracking these local, independent, digital news outlets for more than a decade and started Michele’s List in 2010. Now, with an assist from the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, I updated my database and surveyed … Continued
RJI Fellow wants to make media, tech companies more aware of need to preserve content
Nineteen of 21 news outlets weren’t doing anything to archive web content. A lack of awareness and action in this area has driven Neil Mara to leverage his industry experience and contacts to help find archiving solutions for media companies.
Revenue wrap up: Donors, fees and more
We wrap up our summer series with a few more revenue models to explore.
Crowdfunded campaigns help radio station grow audience and revenue for digital site
A crowdfunded campaign last year helped KPCC (89.3), a radio station in Los Angeles, breathe new life into a shutdown community website dedicated to social, entertainment and local news.