CISLM will grow a more equitable and sustainable future for local news, the journalists who make it and the communities that need it. Through the intersection of research, education and practice, we will redefine sustainability to mean more than revenue. We will cultivate, feed and support the human resources who will reinvent journalism.

Reinventing Local News

Featured Project

NC News & Information Census

Now more than ever, audiences can rely on something other than traditional newsroom production efforts to be the sole sources of their information intake. So where are North Carolinians getting their local news?

This first round of research into news media in North Carolina maps the state’s local news ecosystem beyond the location of outlet headquarters, focusing on the number of outlets counties have access to and the specific counties that appear in reporting.

Q&A with Western NC researcher, Brenda Murphee

By Katelyn Chedraoui | May 17, 2023
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“Nobody to our knowledge had looked at the region as a whole and tried looking at doing a deep dive into news and information ecosystem and needs of particular communities within one of our key regions in the state.”

Nuestro Estado and Pasa la Voz merge to better serve Spanish-speaking audiences in South Carolina and Georgia

By Caitlyn Yaede | Apr 30, 2023
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The goal of Pasa La Voz Noticias is to connect Latinx communities in South Carolina and Georgia with reliable, up-to-date news and information.

How we can help journalists prevent burnout

By Erica Perel | Apr 28, 2023
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“I would hope giving them the support and capacity to do their most meaningful work should ease working conditions, improve the journalism and strengthen communities.”

Q&A with media and politics researcher, Danny Hayes

By Caitlyn Yaede | Apr 24, 2023
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“Having local new news sources is one way to maintain communities in a geographic sense that is, I think, harder to maintain in a more globalized era.”

CISLM presents research on state of news in NC at NC Local News Summit

Journalists, academics and news professionals traveled to Elon University to report updates on their respective works and share ideas on sustainability in local news.

Lansing State Journal declines lead to shifting business model

It’s difficult to balance limited resources with sustaining a print product and an expanding digital landscape. The news isn’t all bad, Perel points out. New digital mediums mean new ways for diverse voices to infiltrate the industry.

Shorenstein Center publishes research on local public radio filling news gaps

Jessica Mahone, current CISLM research director and former Pew Research Center research associate, co-authored a study referenced in the paper.

LION serves local news organizations through sustainability audits

When making informed decision-making for your organization, CISLM Director Erica Perel advises surveying audiences to evaluate their needs. This audience research is imperative to understanding who you are writing for and how they behave.