Innovation in Focus
Innovation in Focus is a series exploring new tech, tools and methods of storytelling for journalism. We interview experts, test ideas and provide our findings with templates, guidance and how-tos so you can implement the same innovations in your newsroom.
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Whether you’re a one-man band or a large metro, this series will help you take the next step in innovative journalism.
Email the editor: lytle@rjionline.org
Take a tour of all the Innovation in Focus experiments from 2024
From creating merch with local artists to innovating CTAs — newsrooms across the country experimented to serve their communities better.
News through animation can improve memorability, engagement
A conversation with Mike Beaudet.
Four tools to create animated news explainers
Experimenting with VideoScribe, Adobe Express and more with Mississippi Today.
Creative ways to connect your community with resources
A conversation with Adrienne Johnson Martin.
Create a community resource hub using a free interactive tool
From food assistance to translation services, how Canopy Atlanta shares resources.
Using zines to share public service, civic information
From printing on a budget to distributing strategically: what you need to know.
Using zines to connect with a hyper-specific audience
Print is not dead: A conversation with Sarah Bennett Working with artists and journalists at all skill levels in her print shop, Sarah Bennett is familiar with tailoring zines to meet the needs of different producers and audiences. The Innovation in Focus team met with Bennett to talk about some of the common challenges she … Continued
Tips and tools for building an impact report grounded in your mission
A conversation with Sarah Luyengi from Borderless When creating impact reports at Borderless Magazine, Sarah Luyengi, operations associate, said she thinks about an aspect of the news organization’s mission: Community is at the center of everything they do. In a recent interview with the Innovation in Focus team, Luyengi defined impact as how Borderless consistently … Continued
Tips for communicating your newsroom’s impact
Templates and lessons learned from the Flathead Beacon’s first report.
How to increase community engagement on Facebook
Using targeted ads to encourage reader participation.