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: edinneen@rjionline.org
How to get your reporters started with vertical video
Muhammad Osama Farooq is a 2026 RJI Student Innovation Fellow partnered with Detroit Free Press. The RJI Student Fellows will be sharing their innovative work throughout the summer in Innovation in Focus. Many newsrooms want to create better vertical videos because they know that their audiences are scrolling on Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. … Continued
How to start a youth reporting program in your community
What Mirror Indy learned while launching a new summer program that helps young people report stories from their own neighborhoods.
Google Colab for data tracking and automation
Tips for data cleaning, set up and using APIs.
Building a local legislation tracker
Multiple municipalities, data extraction and getting started with automation.
Quick experiments to find what resonates with your audience
The Maine Monitor wanted to experiment with their vertical video strategy to increase reach and gain new viewers. They tried three different options. Here’s what they discovered.
How to get started creating vertical videos
A conversation with creator journalist Alexa Stone.
How to partner with a local business to grow your newsletter subscribers
We made coffee punch cards to incentivize customers to subscribe to a newsletter.
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
Spreading hope and expanding community through physical mail
A conversation with Katie Hawkins-Gaar.
Creative in-person ideas to increase audience engagement
A conversation with Gabrielle Contesti.