Ashley Woods Branch is a 2026 RJI Professional Innovation Fellow. She and Nina Ignaczak are building an AI-powered platform and tool that will help local newsrooms systematically connect journalism to civic participation by analyzing their articles and generating sidebars showing readers how to take action. The sidebars feature upcoming meetings, comment deadlines, organizations, and officials to contact in their community. Using national databases covering all 50 states and federal agencies, this platform will provide the ability for newsrooms to integrate civic participation boxes into any coverage.

Ashley Woods-Branch is Chief Partnerships & Revenue Officer of Planet Detroit. She is a journalism founder, coach, and strategic operator helping independent news organizations grow audience, revenue, and resilience.