RJI names Kat Duncan its new director of innovation

RJI Senior Editor Kat Duncan has been named the new director of innovation at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. Her appointment is effective immediately. Duncan, who joined RJI in 2017, will continue the duties she took over as the interim director including organizing and leading innovative projects in … Continued

Descript video: Tips and tricks

Innovation in Focus is a series exploring emerging technology and methods of storytelling for newsrooms worldwide. We interview experts, test tools and provide our findings on a different topic each month. This month I tested Descript’s new video editing software to create this video about a local maker and his business. Here are five tips … Continued

From Next City to Next Journalism: Oscar Perry Abello is redefining accountability journalism

Oscar Perry Abello is a New York City-based journalist and senior economics correspondent for Next City, where he covers responses to economic injustice for the non-profit online magazine devoted to inspiring greater economic, environmental, and social justice in cities. I spoke with Abello as part of RJI’s Inclusive Media and Economies project that examines the … Continued

Celebrating life, accomplishments of RJI’s first executive director, renowned journalist Pam Johnson

Thought leader. Teacher. “Champion of female and minority journalists.” Renowned journalist. Industry leader. These were just a few of the words that are used to describe Pam Johnson, 74, founding executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, who died Jan. 20 after a long illness. Johnson, a Missouri School of Journalism graduate, came … Continued

How an idea about local obits became a newsletter

Take that thing you’ve been thinking about doing for awhile now and make it real. A few years ago, I had this idea. I wondered if local, reported obituaries could help local newsrooms build subscribers, and therefore help support the business itself while connecting them with their communities. I talked it out in hallways and … Continued