RJI Founders
The RJI Founders are three startup newsrooms whose mission is to serve the underserved communities they are a part of. They will be sharing their lessons, challenges and founding journey over the two years they are working with RJI.
Local journalism is hard work. Help us carry the load
Through my first decade in the field, Nora Hertel could see that local audiences did not feel well served as the media grew more polarized, nationalized and negative. So, she left in 2021 and launched her own news organization, Project Optimist.
Recentering and refocusing to make a founding newsroom sustainable
My plan for Four Points Media and a balanced future.
The highs and lows of launching multiple products in a news startup
Project Optimist launched with a single product and now works on multiple fronts.
Stepping out of my founder comfort zone: Launching a podcast
As a co-founder of a startup news org in South Charleston, I am experimenting to figure out what works for our communities.
How being a solopreneur has forced me to reckon with my limitations
Learning to set boundaries while I launch a news organization — amid a pandemic — is as important as learning to market and fundraise.
Founding Four Points
A community centered newsroom on the Crow Indian Reservation, Montana.
The People’s Beat: Finding the right pace as a startup newsroom
Diversifying tasks and coverage while finding solutions to the challenges of being a startup led by people of color.
Founding The Optimist
Solution-focused journalism and community conversations for rural Minnesotans.