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
Local News Audience Assistant
Introducing the CISLM Local News Audience Assistant, our customGPT that compiles case studies, best practices, Q&As, tip sheets, audio and video recordings and more around audience development from journalism support organizations.
Q&A with director of Washington Local News Ecosystem Project, Jennifer Henrichsen
“Critical information needs often go unmet when there’s a lack of local news or a decline in an outlet being able to provide significant coverage.”
Q&A with local news researcher, Tyler Nagel
“When an issue happens in the community without a newspaper it can be really challenging to provide unbiased information to the community.”
News & Observer uses “zine-making” to connect with college students during election season
In partnership with The Daily Tar Heel, the N&O hosted a “Make Your Own Zine” event at UNC on Oct. 25 to connect to young voters.
Q&A with Zach Metzger, State of Local News Project director
“The project is perhaps best known for news deserts — regions of the country with very limited access to original local news serving that community.”
Five reasons people leave — or stay in — local journalism
CISLM Research Director Jessica Mahone wrote a piece on why people leave or stay in journalism for the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma.
How to build resilience for yourself and your news organization
How CISLM Director Erica Perel and Knoxville News Executive Editor Joel Christopher pivoted during times of challenges to build a more resilient organization.
Researchers reflect on pathways to support community info needs
The edition of the ANNALs journal featured a dream team of local news researchers, including CISLM’s Research Director Jessica Mahone, who came together to share how media policy is helping journalism.
New wins from UNC Table Stakes alumni organizations
The wins keep coming for news organizations that recently completed the UNC-Knight Foundation Table Stakes Initiative.