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
How we went from 800 to 7,000 accounts reached per month
Four tests 100 Days in Appalachia ran on Instagram to extend this newsroom’s reach.
How to engage impactfully in the comment section
The Markup dives into comments on TikTok to build brand awareness.
Designing news content for your audience requires listening, consistency
A conversation with Nick Petrie.
Four engaging mapping tools and how they stack up
Building a more interactive and community-focused Pride guide with The Buckeye Flame.
Early lessons from elections roundtables in West Virginia
A conversation with Tyler Dedrick, Mountain State Spotlight.
How we aimed to center community voices in a candidate forum
A collaborative take on election debates.
Lean into what your core audiences value
A conversation with Jacqué Palmer, The Boston Globe on growing your newsletter.
How to deepen the impact of newsletter call to actions
A few wording, colors, style changes to increase subscribers through PublicSource newsletters.
Planning a community pop-up event? Start by talking to local organizers
A conversation with Maya Chupkov, founder of the Proud Stutter podcast.
Low-lift events that can spark meaningful storytelling and community connection
Lessons learned when we invited the community to write heartfelt letters In an effort to foster community engagement and connection, the Innovation in Focus team partnered with Vox Magazine on a multimedia story that came from a community pop-up event. After seeing examples of moving storytelling from newsrooms like El Tímpano, where their team gathered … Continued