Introducing the News Media Help Desk for local newsroom sustainability
RJI, in partnership with the Local Media Consortium (LMC), has announced the launch of the News Media Help Desk, a centralized hub to provide local newsrooms with access to essential resources, expert assistance and fractional services.
Supported by a grant from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the initiative aims to help news organizations navigate challenges and achieve long-term sustainability in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“The key reason we pursued this project was sustainability,” said Randy Picht, executive director of RJI. “It’s easy to launch a news website, but sustaining high-quality journalism is hard. This initiative will make it a little easier. We’re optimistic about that because we’ve built the Help Desk on best practices, strong foundations and successful pilot programs.”
RJI is collaborating with the LMC, a strategic alliance of local media companies, to create a dynamic, evolving resource tailored to the needs of local newsrooms. Currently, the Help Desk includes:
RJI Learning Center
A curated, journalism resource center featuring case studies, how-to guides and expert pieces that offer insights and showcase what’s working. New content will be prioritized by topics that are of urgent interest to journalists. The Learning Center will also house a database of tools called the Scorecard that allows users to compare capabilities and features in order to efficiently select a third-party platform that aligns with an organization’s goals.
DODS Fractional Services
Digital On-Demand Services (DODS), an existing program managed by the LMC, connects newsrooms with quality, vetted digital media experts to fill resource gaps and complete projects efficiently. Services are offered at pre-negotiated rates. The DODS team assesses scope of work, matches newsrooms with the best consultant or technologist for the job, and stays involved to ensure the project is successfully completed.
“Our members remain optimistic about the future of local journalism but face significant challenges,” said Fran Wills, CEO of LMC. “The value of shared knowledge available on the News Media Help Desk is immeasurable. We’re proud to partner with RJI to deliver expanded resources and sustainability tools to newsrooms nationwide.”
The Help Desk leverages RJI and LMC’s expertise, enabling the organizations to build on the success of their programs to support the industry with the tools and guidance they need to accelerate innovation and advance their shared mission. New features and resources will be rolled out based on media company feedback and priorities.
Follow the link to see the Help Desk for yourself:
Cite this article
RJI Online (2025, Dec. 10). Introducing the News Media Help Desk for local newsroom sustainability. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Retrieved from: https://rjionline.org/news/introducing-the-news-media-help-desk-for-local-newsroom-sustainability/